Programming note: This is the final quote I set aside during my 21-day Retreat Encouraged by Universal Sage Bodhisattva.

In my post The Innumerable Day Before Day 1, I discussed the difficult  topic of the nature of emptiness in The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings. The Sutra of Contemplation of the Dharma Practice of Universal Sage Bodhisattva also places importance on understanding emptiness (Reeves, p416):

Then the buddhas in all ten directions will reach out with their right hands to touch the head of a follower, saying: “Good, good, good son! Because you have now read and recited the Great Vehicle sutras, the buddhas in all directions will teach the Dharma of repentance for you. Bodhisattva practice is neither a matter of cutting off all bonds and services nor of living in the ocean of servitude. If you contemplate your mind, you will find no mind, except the mind that comes from perverse conceptions. The mind with such conceptions arises from delusion. Like the wind in the sky, it has no grounding. Such a character of things neither appears nor disappears.

“What is sin? What is virtue? As the thought of self is itself empty, neither sin nor virtue is our master. In this way, all things are neither permanent nor destroyed. If one repents like this, meditating on one’s mind, one finds no mind. Things also do not dwell in things. All things are liberated, show the truth of extinction, and are calm and tranquil. Such a thing is called great repentance, sublime repentance, repentance without sin, the destruction of consciousness of mind. People who practice this repentance are pure in body and mind, like flowing water, not attached to things. Whenever they reflect they will be able to see Universal Sage Bodhisattva and the buddhas in all directions.”

Then all the world-honored ones, emitting rays of light of great mercy, will teach for followers the Dharma of formlessness. The followers, hearing the first principle of emptiness being taught, are not surprised by hearing this. In due time they will gain the status of true bodhisattvas.