Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s1.t2.6

v1.c7.s1.t2.6

According to Huisi, all things in the world were unreal. All phenomena were seen as the substratum of existence and phenomena were empty of self-nature. Phenomena were seen as unchanging and undifferentiated substratum of existence which was untruth designation. All things arose from causes and there was no constantly unchanged substance, which was called as “emptiness”. But “emptiness” was also a part of the dharma-nature instead of being beyond the nature or being produced and worked out, which was called the “Middle Path”. Therefore, all things were neither totally empty nor entirely untruthful, but half-empty, half-untruthful. It was empty, untruthful and half-empty and half-untruthful at the same time. None of these three elements may exist if they are independent without relying on the other two. Reflecting emptiness and untruthfulness from the middle path showed the wholeness of these three elements which was regarded as their integration. As regards to meditation and practice, the Tien-Tai School demanded “reflecting emptiness, untruthfulness and the middle with one mind” to cast off *avidya* and acquire liberation and Nirvana.