法華玄論 2.179

2.179

Answer: Since it is said to be neither cause nor fruit, it is also neither conventional nor ultimate, neither object nor contemplation. Thus the Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa, explaining prajñā, says: 'Cause is one extreme, fruit is one extreme; departing from these two extremes is called the middle way.' It also says: 'The object is one extreme, contemplation is one extreme; departing from these two extremes is called the middle way.' Master Sengzhao's Nirvāṇa-treatise says: 'Dharmas have no characteristics of existence or non-existence, hence there are no categories externally. Sages have no cognition of existence or non-existence, hence there is no mind internally. Externally there are no categories, and internally there is no mind; that and this are quiescent and extinguished—this is called nirvāṇa.' How could this be the ultimate truth?