勝鬘寶窟 3.16

3.16

Eighth is the section on the overarching meaning. The *Avataṃsaka-sūtra* states: "The dharmadhātu is not finite, nor is it infinite. The Muni entirely transcends both the finite and the infinite." This meaning clarifies that based on the heaviness or lightness of illusion, the finite and infinite are distinguished. Heavy illusion is called finite suffering and origination, and parting from heavy illusion is called finite cessation and path; light illusion is called infinite suffering and origination, and parting from light illusion is called infinite cessation and path. However, illusion fundamentally never arises, and now it has no cessation. Because it does not arise, there was never suffering and origination; because it does not cease, how could there be cessation and the path? Therefore, it is neither suffering nor origination, neither cessation nor the path—how could it be finite or infinite? One must deeply grasp this meaning. If one definitively conceives an understanding of finite and infinite, this becomes having an acquisition (upalambha), and one fails to recognise the sūtra's underlying intent.