大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 76.14

76.14

Ninth: the forbearance of [phenomena being] like an illusion (māyopama-kṣānti). Regarding the commentary's "The Renwang says: 'Dharmas fundamentally do not exist of themselves; dependent origination produces them'": this confirms the two meanings above, namely, unreality and the appearance of characteristics. However, there are two meanings: First, being produced by cause and conditions is itself the appearance of characteristics. Because it is produced from conditions, the moment existence arises it is non-existent, hence it says dharmas fundamentally do not exist of themselves, which is the meaning of having no reality. Second, the two lines together establish a single meaning: "of themselves" means from the beginning. Arriving at existence from non-existence is called "production"; it is not that they existed primarily beforehand, hence it says "dharmas fundamentally do not exist of themselves." Arising upon meeting conditions, it says "dependent origination produces them." Thus, simply using "dependent origination produces them" establishes both meanings: because they are produced from cause and conditions, characteristics exist; because what is produced from conditions lacks inherent nature, they have no reality. Precisely in accordance with non-existence suddenly becoming existence is it called "an illusion"; therefore this text is cited. This passage is from the verse spoken by King Samantaprabhā to the thousand kings in the fifth chapter, the "Chapter on Protecting the Country," in the second fascicle. After this, there is another verse: "What flourishes must decline, / what is real is entirely false. / The bustling multitude of worlds / is completely like living in an illusion. / Sound and echo are both empty; / lands are also like this," and so forth. In total there are eight verses and the narrative context, all as in that sūtra.