大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 32.10

32.10

Regarding the commentary from "However, these two being non-dual" downwards: this is the third [part], fusion. Within it are two: first, directly explaining; second, concluding with praise. The first combines the previous four meanings. One must understand that the four meanings have different designations in two places: above, "true emptiness necessarily extinguishes illusory existence" is the meaning of emptiness on [the side of] true emptiness; second, "necessarily establishes illusory existence" is the meaning of non-emptiness on [the side of] true emptiness; third, "illusory existence necessarily conceals true emptiness" is the meaning of existence on [the side of] illusory existence; fourth, "necessarily does not obstruct true emptiness" is the meaning of non-existence on [the side of] illusory existence. Furthermore, one must understand that existence and non-existence, emptiness and non-emptiness each have two meanings. The two meanings on existence are: first, the meaning of not destroying the characteristic of existence; second, the meaning of precluding annihilationism; thus existence is designated as "not non-existent." The two meanings on non-existence are: first, the meaning of transcending the characteristic of existence; second, the meaning of being identical with emptiness. The two meanings on emptiness are: first, the meaning of not destroying nature; second, the meaning of precluding definitive existence; thus emptiness is designated as "not non-empty." The two meanings on non-emptiness are: first, the meaning of transcending the characteristic of emptiness; second, the meaning of being identical with existence. Having understood designations and meanings, now the commentary's fusion comprises five tiers, constituting five kinds of Middle Way. The first states, "Meaning that existence and non-existence being non-dual constitute one illusory existence": this is the mutual combination of the two meanings on existence; however, taking the meaning of not destroying characteristics on existence and the meaning of transcending the characteristic of existence on non-existence, they combine into one illusory existence, which is the Middle Way of conventional truth.