诸法空相　林钰堂

空性离对立，佛亦无法说；
存在及质量，俱泯示其相。

跋

或问：“〈心经〉中何不直言‘诸法空性’，而曰：‘诸法空相’？”良以空性无以言表，离对立故；若欲介绍此观念，只能藉对立之特征以阐释之，因而述及“空相”，随即就“存在”、“质”及“量”而说明为：不生不灭，不垢不净，并且不增不减。如此泯除一切“相执”，庶几当机得悟。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　二○○七年元月廿八日　　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　养和斋　　　　于加州

---

Characteristics of Blank Essence　Yutang Lin

Blank Essence transcends duality,
Even Buddha could not express it.
Existence, quality and quantity all
Absent to reveal its characteristics.

Comments:

Someone asked, "In the Heart Sutra, why it was not stated directly as 'the Blank Essence of all these things' but instead as 'the characteristics of Blank Essence of all these things'?" This is due to the fact that Blank Essence could not be expressed in words because it is in the absence of all duality. In order to illuminate this concept of Blank Essence one can only illustrate it in terms of dualistic characteristics. Therefore, in the Sutra it mentioned "the characteristics of Blank Essence," and then immediately explain it with regard to existence, quality and quantity as "neither born nor deceased, neither dirty nor clean, (and) neither increasing nor decreasing." Thus eliminating all grasping to forms (appearances, characteristics) so that the reader (or listener) might have an opportunity to comprehend Blank Essence.

Written in Chinese on January 28, 2007
Translated on January 29, 2007
El Cerrito, California

---

[Home][Back to list][Characteristics of Blank Essence]