[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) › 99.23 # 宗鏡錄 99.23 English (machine translation) 99.23 - **Language:** English ### [99.23](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2016~en-mt.99.23) The Xianxing lun says: “Regarding ‘seeing the nature in a single thought’: seeing the nature is the fundamental substance of both ordinary beings and sages. It pervades everything, yet cannot be perturbed by anything. Existing in defilement, it is undefiled, yet capable of discerning defilement; existing in purity, it is not \[merely\] pure, yet capable of discerning purity. Its nature does not abide in any phenomenon, yet is capable of pervading all phenomena. If one contemplates a single phenomenon, one does not see the nature; if one does not contemplate a single phenomenon, one also does not see the nature. Its nature does not lie in contemplating, nor does it lie in not contemplating. When one sees the nature of mind within the body of a single sentient being, one sees it in all sentient beings. When one sees the nature of mind within a single speck of dust, one sees it in all specks of dust. Because the nature pervades ordinary beings and sages, good and evil, the place of the ordinary penetrates the place of the sage, and the place of the sage penetrates the place of the ordinary; good and evil mutually penetrate. The fundamental nature is naturally so. Because all phenomena can neither be grasped nor discarded, their nature and characteristics are naturally so. Because their intrinsic nature is pure, though speaking all day, not a single utterance can be grasped; though hearing all day, not a single hearing can be grasped; though seeing all day, not a single sight can be grasped; though knowing all day, not a single knowledge can be grasped. None of this is established by ordinary beings or sages. Therefore the sūtra says: ‘Whether I appear in the world or do not appear in the world, this Dharma is always so.’” - [Previous: 99.22](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2016~en-mt.99.22) - [Next: 99.24](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2016~en-mt.99.24) - [Up: 99](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2016~en-mt.99) ## Linked texts (1) - [宗鏡錄](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2016.99.23) — Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2016~en-mt.99.23](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2016~en-mt.99.23) · Pramāṇa