仁王護國般若波羅蜜多經疏 1.18

1.18

Question: What is the distinction between what is established by these two accounts of the three natures? Answer: The former, by refuting the three, establishes the three naturelessnesses; the latter merely relies on the three to establish the three naturelessnesses. The former is emptiness and the latter is existence—this is the distinction between the two. If one carefully examines the ultimate principle, they actually do not refute one another. For example, regarding establishing the three natures with respect to the form aggregate: the arbitrary clinging to a self and phenomena upon the form aggregate is the parikalpita; the conditioned form aggregate itself is the paratantra; and the true suchness that is the nature of form is the pariniṣpanna. If one says that the three natures are all existent or all empty, both are completely without error; one need only understand the meaning in one's mind and not become attached to words. To say they are all existent means: the parikalpita is falsely existent, the paratantra is dependently existent, and the pariniṣpanna is truly existent. To say they are all empty means: the parikalpita is empty in substance, the paratantra is empty in intrinsic nature, and the pariniṣpanna is empty in the ultimate sense. The sages and noble ones fully comprehend such meaning. Do not say that the statements of the two bodhisattvas above and the two tripiṭaka masters below contradict one another. As for speaking of emptiness or existence, it is for those who at that time took delight in hearing of emptiness or existence that they could generate practice and realization. Because ordinary fools have since beginningless time been perfumed with the clinging to existence and emptiness, and their sickness was deep, the Buddha gave these teachings to eradicate it. All the bodhisattvas and others, respectfully following the noble words, addressed the faults of clinging and views in their respective times and widely propagated the teaching relying on valid scriptural testimony. May you examine this carefully and not give rise to the sickness again. The aforementioned three natures and naturelessness, and the two truths as existence and emptiness, are all the central theme of this sūtra, as will be understood when we come to the text. This clarifies the various scriptural explanations.