無量壽經連義述文贊 2.20

2.20

On the passage from "There is also nothing made" to "attaining the equal Dharma": The commentary states: Second is the virtues realized through cultivation. This has two parts: first, the virtue of self-benefit; second, the virtue of benefiting others. The first also has four: here, the first is the equality attained. Some say: Because the nature of the three vehicles is empty, there is 'nothing made'; not seeing that one separately realizes the fruits of the three vehicles, there is 'nothing possessed'; comprehending the true naturelessness to understand that all dharmas do not arise or perish, there is 'no arising and no perishing'. This is not correct. Since the determinate two vehicles enter nirvāṇa without remainder, one cannot definitively say there is no separate realization. Furthermore, because they display the three vehicles, it is not 'nothing made'; and because they manifest extinction, it is not 'nothing possessed'. Some say: Because there is no cause that can be made, there is 'nothing made'; because there is no fruit that can exist, there is 'nothing possessed'; because there is no purity that can arise and no defilement that can perish, it is called 'equal'. This is also not so. Because causes have function, it is not 'nothing made'; and because fruits exist depending on conditions, it is not 'nothing possessed'. Now [we explain]: 'nothing made and nothing possessed' is equality in phenomena. 'No arising and no perishing' is equality in principle. Lacking real activity, there is 'nothing made'; unable to arise on their own, there is 'nothing possessed'. Although pure dharmas increase, the true does not increase along with them, hence 'no arising'. Although defiled dharmas perish, suchness does not perish along with them, hence 'no perishing'. All dharmas are of a single characteristic, namely the signless; hence it is called 'equal'. Realizing and harmonizing with this, it is therefore also said that they 'attain'.