宗鏡錄 67.27

67.27

Answer: Although the characteristics of phenomena are empty, there is still the discrimination between what can be seen and what cannot be seen. For example, illusory phantom elephants, horses, and various objects: although one knows they are unreal, still form can be seen and sound can be heard without mutual confusion, because they confront the six sense faculties. Phenomena are also like this: although empty, they can be seen and heard without mutual confusion. Examining the meaning of this treatise, it is based on what is seen by worldly, ordinary feelings: when the eye faculty confronts the form object, and the eye-consciousness in between—the harmony of these three—it can be called seeing. These faculties, objects, and consciousnesses are all empty in their intrinsic nature; individually, they cannot produce seeing, nor can their harmony produce seeing. It is merely that in the presence of false emotional consciousness, what confronts seeing and hearing is not absent. Hence a sūtra says: "Seen by ordinary persons, it is conventional truth; seen by noble ones, it is ultimate truth." What is called "truth" (satya) means thoroughly real and not false, hence it is called truth. Conventional truth is not non-existent; clinging to the provisional is its truth. Ultimate truth is not existent; realizing the real is its truth.'