[V]erses in the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra say, “All things are transient; this is the dharma of arising and perishing . . .” and “When arising and perishing is extinguished, this quiescence is the appearance, nature [and so forth] of those of the six destinies [from hell to heaven] are the referent of “all things.” The appearance, nature [and so forth] of those of the two vehicles and [the bodhisattva of] the Shared Teaching are the referent of “transient.”²³⁸ The appearances, nature [and so forth] of the bodhisattvas of the Distinct Teaching are the referent of “when arising and perishing is extinguished.”²³⁹ The appearances, nature [and so forth] of the Buddha realm are the referent for “this quiescence is bliss.”²⁴⁰ Also, “when arising and perishing is extinguished, this quiescence is bliss” refers to the appearances, nature [and so forth] of the Distinct Teaching, i.e., arising and perishing is identical with the quiescence of extinction. When extinction has not yet been accomplished, it is already called “bliss.”²⁴¹ This is the appearances, nature [and so forth] of the Buddha realm as taught in the Perfect Teaching.

236

This is the verse from a famous story concerning one of Śākyamuni’s previous lives in which he is practicing in the Himalayan mountains. A Buddha who appears as a rākṣasa speaks the first part of the verse to the future Śākyamuni, who then offers his body to be eaten by the rākṣasa in order to hear the last half of the verse. return

237

This corresponds to the position of pratītyasamutpāda, conditioned co-arising. return

238

This corresponds to the position of Śūnyatā, emptiness. return

239

This should correspond to the position of prajn͂aptirupādādya, conventional existence. return

240

This should correspond to the position of madhyamā, the middle. return

241

In other words, true nirvāṇa is not complete extinction; rather, reality is inherently and originally quiescent. Chih-i could have quoted, for example, the Lotus Sūtra, which Hurvitz, Lotus Sūtra, 37, translates: “The dharmas from their very origin are themselves eternally characterized by the marks of quiet extinction.” return