摩訶止觀 3.70

3.70

Regarding entering the provisional from emptiness being called the 'contemplation of equality': if one enters emptiness, there is not even emptiness to be had, so what provisionality could there be to enter? One should know that this contemplation is for the sake of transforming sentient beings. Knowing that the true is not [ultimately] true, one employs expedient means to emerge into the provisional. Therefore it is said that from emptiness one distinguishes medicines and illnesses without error, which is why it is called 'entering the provisional'. 'Equality' is named so in comparison to the former [contemplation]. The former contemplation destroyed the illness of the provisional without employing provisional dharmas, employing only true dharmas; destroying the one and not destroying the other was not yet equality. The latter contemplation destroys the illness of emptiness and returns to employing provisional dharmas. Destruction and employment are thereby equalised, and viewed across different times, it is therefore called 'equality'.