華嚴一乘教義分齊章 4.7

4.7

Regarding the first gate, warding off attachments: Question: "Is suchness existent?" Answer: "No, because it accords with conditions." Question: "Is suchness nonexistent?" Answer: "No, because it is unchanging." Question: "Is it both existent and nonexistent?" Answer: "No, because it lacks dual natures." Question: "Is it neither existent nor nonexistent?" Answer: "No, because it is endowed with virtues." Further question: "Is it existent?" Answer: "No, because it is unchanging. Why? Because being unchanging, it is revealed in accordance with conditions." Question: "Is it nonexistent?" Answer: "No, because it accords with conditions. Why? Because in according with conditions, it is unchanging and permanently abiding." The remaining two propositions can be understood by extension. Further question: "Is it existent?" Answer: "No, because it is free from what is predicated." The lower three propositions follow this pattern. Further question: "Is it existent?" Answer: "No, because it is empty suchness." Question: "Is it nonexistent?" Answer: "No, because it is non-empty suchness." Question: "Is it both existent and nonexistent?" Answer: "No, because it is free from contradiction." Question: "Is it neither existent nor nonexistent?" Answer: "No, because it is free from conceptual proliferation." Further question: "Is it existent?" Answer: "No, because it is free from false thoughts." Question: "Is it nonexistent?" Answer: "No, because it is the sphere of activity of noble gnosis." The remaining propositions are modeled on this.