大般涅槃經義記 6.20

6.20

The above clarifies emptiness; below, the contemplation is explained in relation to it. First is contemplating internal emptiness, wherein there is first a question, next an explanation, and finally a conclusion. In the explanation there are three meanings, and in the text there are distinctly four parts. As for the three meanings: first, contemplating that within the internal there are no falsely conceptualized sentient beings, life-spans, permanence, bliss, self, or purity; second, within this emptiness there are no external objects; third, within this emptiness there are no Buddha, Dharma, Saṅgha, or buddha-nature. Because this emptiness of marks does not yet reach the real, starting from internal emptiness down to beginningless emptiness all three are present by analogy, differing only in what is absent within the emptiness.