[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [宗鏡錄](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2016) › [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2016~en-mt) › 2.3 # 宗鏡錄 2.3 English (machine translation) 2.3 - **Language:** English ### [2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2016~en-mt.2.3) Answer: Within the one real truth, although there is neither arising nor perishing, within the gate of expedient means, there are great causes and conditions. Thus a verse in the Lotus Sūtra says: / 'All phenomena are ever without intrinsic nature; / The buddha-seed arises from conditions.' / Because the myriad phenomena are ever without intrinsic nature, there is no time when their nature is not empty; of their very nature they are able to accord with conditions, and in according with conditions they do not lose their nature. Moreover, the reasons for the arising of the teachings have immeasurable causes and conditions. Ancient masters briefly marked ten of them: first, due to inherent nature; second, due to the power of vows; third, due to response to capacities; fourth, to serve as the root; fifth, to reveal virtues; sixth, to manifest the stages; seventh, to bring about development; eighth, for seeing and hearing; ninth, to accomplish practice; and tenth, to attain the fruit. Now, as for the Vijñaptimātratāsiddhiśāstra and other works compiled by the great bodhisattvas, their main import is of two kinds: first, to reach the correct source of the myriad phenomena and smash erroneous attachments to the two kinds of emptiness; second, to sever the obstacles of kleśa and of the knowable, and realize the gate of liberation and bodhi. This is the personal realization of the source of phenomena, the true ground of original awakening; it does not lie in the elaboration of words, phrases, and literal meanings. Now, as an expedient compilation for later students who aspire to the Way, this work also has two aims of its own, serving to express the original intent: first, for those fond of brevity, to grasp the essential pivot, so that thoroughly mastering the precise purport, they are spared having to read voluminous texts; second, for those clinging to the general who do not understand specific principles, to subtly analyze and unfold them so that nature and characteristics are completely interfused, cutting off the root of the two kinds of birth-and-death, treading the single-flavored path of bodhi, looking up to the great purport of the various sūtras to directly comprehend one's own citta, and honoring the subtle words of the sages to頓 open the treasury of awakening. Removing those views based on superficial understanding and smashing the feelings of erroneous attachment, it causes them to deeply believe in the correct source, makes them know that the moon is not the finger, and turns the light inward to reflect back, enabling them to see the nature without following after the text. Harmony with personal realization alone—this is the fundamental intent. One must not arbitrarily give rise to conceptual understanding and sink down in the river of views, harbor an intention of seeking attainment within the contemplation of non-attainment, or give rise to a mind of grasping and rejecting upon the principle of true emptiness, following one's own subjective whims and thereby misleading later students. One must personally see the nature; only then will one understand this source. - [Previous: 2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2016~en-mt.2.2) - [Next: 2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2016~en-mt.2.4) - [Up: 2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2016~en-mt.2) ## Linked texts (1) - [宗鏡錄](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2016.2.3) — Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2016~en-mt.2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2016~en-mt.2.3) · Pramāṇa