The Ultimate Expression of the Subtlety of Reality

The final, ultimate level is that of the “Perfect threefold truth”, or the understanding of the threefold truth by those of the Perfect Teaching. At this level one realizes that “it is not only the Middle Path which completely includes the Buddha-Dharma, but also the real and the mundane [truths]. This threefold truth is perfectly integrated; one in three and three in one” (705a5-7). The mundane truth contains all of reality, is all of reality, and all of reality contains the mundane truth. The same is true for the real truth and the Middle, for emptiness and conventional existence. These are all synonymous, integrated; one yet three and three yet one. All of reality is empty, is conventionally existent, is the Middle. All of reality is simultaneously empty of substantial Being yet conventionally existent. The one subtle threefold truth is “incomparable” and “absolute subtlety.” This is the ultimate expression of the subtlety of reality.

Foundations of T'ien T'ai Philosophy, p 152