大般涅槃經義記 3.7

3.7

"Named the fruit that is not empty" is the ninety-first [section], explaining the transcendence of existence and non-existence; its name is listed first. The name is abbreviated; fully stated, it should say "named the non-empty empty," but to distinguish it from the previous approach, it simply says "not empty." Next, its characteristics are explained. In this explanation, it first illustrates the Dharma by means of a metaphor; from "when that vessel meets with conditions, it breaks" onward, it distinguishes the Dharma from the metaphor. The former contains three parts: First, positing the metaphor to illustrate the Dharma. "Vessels for water, wine, and curds" adduces the metaphorical entities, and below this, the metaphorical characteristics are distinguished. Therein, it first explains emptiness and non-emptiness in terms of the vessels for water, wine, and so forth: "although devoid of water" and so forth expresses the meaning of emptiness; "it is still entitled a vessel for water and so forth" expresses the meaning of non-emptiness. Because the entity of the vessel exists, it is called not empty, not meaning that having remnants of water, wine, and so forth is called not empty. This is similar in meaning to the passage above explaining that although the lamp is extinguished, the lampstand still remains. From "such a vessel" onward, it explains that emptiness and non-emptiness cannot be one-sidedly determined. From "if one says it is empty" onward, it refutes the others' understanding of emptiness. If one says it is definitely empty, then there could not be the visible form, fragrance, flavor, and tangibility of the vessel's entity, thus refuting its definitive emptiness. "If one says it is not empty, yet it lacks water and so forth" refutes definitive non-emptiness. Second, applying the metaphor to illustrate the Dharma: "Liberation is also like this" corresponds to the entity of the vessel above. Below, it corresponds to the metaphorical characteristics: "It cannot be said to be form or non-form" corresponds to the earlier statement that although it lacks water, wine, and so forth, it is still entitled a vessel for water, wine, and so forth. "It cannot be said to be empty or non-empty" corresponds to the earlier statement that it cannot be said to be empty or non-empty. From "if one says it is empty" onward corresponds to the earlier statement that if it were empty, there could not be visible form, fragrance, flavor, and tangibility, and if one says it is not empty, it yet lacks water and so forth. From "therefore" onward is the conclusion. Third, broadly distinguishing the Dharma and metaphor in mutual correspondence. Therein, it first explains emptiness in terms of the Dharma: "Emptiness means being devoid of the twenty-five states of existence" explains the absence of the fruit of suffering; "and all afflictions" explains the absence of the cause of delusion; "free from all suffering and all marks" further explains the absence of the fruit, for because there is no fruit of the twenty-five states of existence, one is far removed from the multitude of sufferings and also free from the marks of impermanence, non-self, and so forth, hence it is spoken of as being free from all suffering and all marks. The statement "free from all conditioned formations" explains the absence of the cause of karma, for wholesome and unwholesome karma are called conditioned formations. The initial word "free" (無) runs through all the phrases. "Just as a vessel lacks curds" adduces the metaphor to match this. Next, it explains non-emptiness in terms of the Dharma: "Meaning real wholesome form, permanence, bliss, self, and purity"; the faculties and major and minor marks are called wholesome form. From "just as the vessel" onward adduces the metaphor to match this. "Therefore liberation is like that vessel" concludes the correspondence of Dharma to metaphor. Up to here, liberation has been distinguished by relying on the metaphor. People might think liberation is entirely identical to that metaphor, so below the difference is distinguished: "When that vessel meets with conditions, it is broken and destroyed" explains how the metaphor differs from the Dharma; "liberation is not like this" distinguishes how the Dharma differs from the metaphor. The conclusion can be known.