華嚴法界玄鏡 2.13

2.13

Explanation: From here below is the second pair of mutual establishment. However, the subsequent eight gates all first state their names, and afterwards explain below the word “means”; below, no further distinctions are sorted out. In this pair, first it clarifies principle viewed in relation to phenomena, namely the third gate: first it directly explains; afterwards, from “because all...” onward, it sets forth the reason. There are two reasons: first, due to naturelessness; second, due to tathatā according with conditions. The text has three parts: first, clarifying establishment through naturelessness. The Madhyamakaśāstra says: “Because the meaning of emptiness exists, all phenomena are able to be established. If the meaning of emptiness did not exist, everything would not be established.” The Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā-sūtra says: “If all phenomena were not empty, there would be no Path and no fruition.” Second, from “Just as a wave...” onward is the simile. The simile has two meanings: (1) above, it illustrates naturelessness: because water does not abide by the self-nature of water, it can form waves; (2) below, it illustrates establishment through tathatā according with conditions: that is, if there were no water, there would be no waves; if there were no tathatā, based on what phenomenon could they be established? Third, from “based on the tathāgatagarbha...” onward matches the above simile of tathatā according with conditions; that is, the Śrīmālā-sūtra says: “Based on the tathāgatagarbha there is saṃsāra; based on the tathāgatagarbha there is nirvāṇa.” This means that if there were no tathatā, what would unite with delusion to become saṃsāra? Because all phenomena are separated from the true mind and lack self-essence, the tathāgatagarbha is precisely the tathatā of the gate of saṃsāra. Therefore in the “Clarifying Questions” chapter, Mañjuśrī raises the challenge: “The mind-nature is one; why is there seen to be diverse distinctions?” Jñānaprabha answers: “The dharmatā is originally unarisen; it manifests and there is arising.” This is the answer of tathatā according with conditions.