成唯識論掌中樞要 2.226

2.226

Regarding the sequence of prior and posterior in realizing the three natures, the three passages in various places differ, as reconciled in the *Weishi zhang*. Why is it that the principles of the two emptinesses have shallowness and depth, such that awakening to [the emptiness of] persons does not necessarily entail awakening to [the emptiness of] phenomena, whereas regarding the shallowness and depth of the two natures, when one has not awakened to the deep, one definitely has not awakened to the shallow; and one must penetrate the principle before penetrating phenomena? Answer: The two principles are distinct; when the hindrance of grasping at person is severed, one does not awaken to the emptiness of phenomena, whereas the two natures have no distinct hindrances. When one does not awaken to the root, one cannot awaken to the branch phenomena, for there has never been awakening to phenomena first and only subsequently awakening to the emptiness of persons. Only by awakening to true principle does one understand conventional phenomena. One can understand this by reflecting upon it.