摩訶止觀 2.28

2.28

As for mental calming and contemplation, the sūtra instructs one to contemplate. One contemplates the 'Mahādhaṇḍi-dhāraṇī', translated as 'the great esoteric essential that arrests evil and upholds goodness'. 'Esoteric essential' is simply true reality, the middle way, and proper emptiness. The sūtra says: 'I come from the genuine truth. The genuine truth is the characteristic of quiescent cessation; in the characteristic of quiescent cessation, there is nothing sought, and that which seeks is also empty. The attainer, the grasper, the true, the comer, the speaker, and the questioner are all empty. Quiescent cessation and nirvāṇa are also both empty; the delimitations of all empty space are also all empty (first).' 'In that wherein nothing is sought, I nevertheless seek it. Such genuine Dharmas of emptiness-emptiness—wherein should they be sought? They should be sought within the six pāramitās (second).' This is the same as the eighteen emptinesses in the Large Sutra. It is no different from the emptiness of Kapilavastu, the emptiness of the Tathāgata, and the emptiness of great nirvāṇa in the Great Sūtra. Applying this wisdom of emptiness across all activities, there is none that does not become contemplation. As for 'Fangdeng' (Vaipulya), some say it means 'broad and equal'. Here, 'fang' (square/correct) means 'method' (fa). Prajñā has four methods, meaning the four gates for entering the cool pond; this is 'fang'. The principle realized, the impartial great wisdom, is 'deng' (equal). Causing one to seek the dream king is the preliminary expedience preceding the two contemplations.