仁王護國般若經疏 2.3

2.3

From 'three emptinesses' etc., next praises the virtue of samādhi. Because of the conditions of the three designations, the names of the three emptinesses are attained; this is stated in the sequence of cause and effect. Because of dharmic designation, there is emptiness; because of the designation of receiving, there is signlessness; because of nominal designation, there is wishlessness. Therefore the *Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa* states: 'Due to the thirty-seven factors [of awakening], one tends toward the gates of nirvāṇa.' The gates of nirvāṇa are three, namely emptiness, signlessness, and wishlessness. The gate of emptiness means contemplating all phenomena as devoid of self and what belongs to self; all phenomena exist from the combination of causes and conditions, without an agent and without an experiencer—this is called the gate of emptiness. The gate of signlessness means contemplating that although the body is empty, signs remain; because people cling to these signs, they cultivate signlessness. As it is said, looking up, bending down, bending, stretching, standing, staying, going, coming, gazing, and speaking—therein is nothing real. Because the wind element relies on consciousness, whatever is done is a mark of the cessation of consciousness, being absent moment to moment. In this there is male and female and self; because the mind lacks wisdom, it falsely sees existence, a chain of bones joined together, covered with skin and flesh, moving mechanically like a wooden puppet—this is the gate of signlessness. The gate of wishlessness means that even signs do not exist; this is called wishlessness. If these three absorptions are absent among the dhyānas, they are not called samādhis; because of falling back, one falls into saṃsāra. As it is said, one who can maintain pure precepts is called a bhikṣu; one who can contemplate emptiness is called a person who practices emptiness; one who single-mindedly and constantly exerts vigorous effort is called a true practitioner of the path; these three can reach nirvāṇa and attain the three gates of liberation, and so forth.