203 - Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra
- PART III : chapter 9 –

translated by Robert A. F. Thurman

(Two translations from Thurman (almost identical);
+ Thomas Cleary’s translation of this chapter:
chapter 8. Entry into Non-dual Truth
From: https://terebess.hu/english/vim1.pdf )

[See chapters 1-4 in Part I]
[See chapters 5-8 in Part II]
[See chapters 9 in part III]
[See chapters 10-12 & Epilogue in Part IV]
[See Global Résumé of the Sutra in Part I, after the Table of Content]

TABLE OF CONTENT OF PART III (chapter 9 only)

9. The Dharma-Door of Non-duality [Union of opposites] ***

RÉSUMÉS

i. Transcending Opposites
ii. Sub-Sections of Chap. 9
iii. The Meaning of Union
iv. The Doors to Non-Duality

TEXTS

1. Non-duality / Union of the 3 stages of becoming
2. Non-duality / Union of the 3 spheres of ownership
3. Non-duality / Union of impurity / defilement <==> purity / purification
4. Non-duality / Union of distraction / mentation / movement <==> attention / fixation / rest
5. Non-duality / Union of the various buddhist vehicles
6. Non-duality / Union of accepting / grasping / seeking <==> rejecting / not-grasping / abandoning
7. Non-duality / Union of difference / separation / manyness / duality <==> identity / unification / oneness / non-duality
8. Non-duality / Union of good / significant <==> bad / evil / meaningless
9. Non-duality / Union of sinfulness / being bound / samsara <==> sinlessness / being liberated / nirvana
10. Non-duality / Union of conceptualisation / discrimination / manyness / appearances / functionalities <==> non-conceptualisation / non-discrimination / oneness / emptiness
11. Non-duality / Union of happiness <==> misery / suffering
12. Non-duality / Union of mundane / ordinary / samsara / appearances <==> transcendental / beyond / nirvana / emptiness
13. Non-duality / Union of being bound / samsara <==> being liberated / nirvana
14. Non-duality / Union of permanence / continuity / eternity / indestructibility <==> impermanence / discontinuity / annihilation / destructibility
15. Non-duality / Union of existence / self / appearances <==> non-existence / no-self / emptiness
16. Non-duality / Union of ignorance <==> wisdom / knowledge
17. Non-duality / Union of the Two Truths: appearances <==> emptiness
18. Non-duality / Union of the basic elements of reality
19. Non-duality / Union of the 3 spheres of perception / cognition
20. Non-duality / Union of the 3 spheres of causality
21. Non-duality / Union of the 3 doors of liberation
22. Non-duality / Union of the 3 Jewels
23. Non-duality / Union of the 3 stages of becoming of the five aggregates
24. Non-duality / Union of the 3 types of actions / karma – actions of the body, speech & mind
25. Non-duality / Union of the 3 types of actions / karma – wholesome, unwholesome, neutral actions
26. Non-duality / Union of conceptualisation <==> non-conceptualisation
27. Non-duality / Union of acceptating / grasping / seeking <==> rejecting / non-grasping / abandoning
28. Non-duality / Union of darkness <==> light
29. Non-duality / Union of disliking samsara / appearances <==> liking nirvana / emptiness
30. Non-duality / Union of right <==> wrong
31. Non-duality / Union of truth <==> falsehood
32. Nevertheless, all your explanations are themselves dualistic
33. Silence

9. THE DHARMA-DOOR OF NON-DUALITY
(Union of opposites [Uopp / U2T-opp])

[RÉSUMÉS:]

[i. TRANSCENDING OPPOSITES:]

(i.e. This chapter is about using various Madhyamaka Reasonings to demonstrate that
the true nature of Reality as it is here & now is inconceivable, the Non-duality / Union of opposites [Uopp], the Union of the Three spheres [U3S], the Union of the Two Truths [U2T] – free all extremes & middle, free from all dualistic conceptual proliferations, free from all defining limitations, free from all conditioning / karma; (‘free from’, or ‘beyond’, of ‘transcending’)
-
BEYOND the existence and non-existence of the three stages of becoming or three times [U3T / U2T-3T / Uopp-3T / U3S-3T]: BEYOND origination / beginning / birth / coming / past & duration / middle / existing / changing / lasting / present & cessation / ending / death / going / future / extinction;
BEYOND dependent origination / production / birth & productionlessness / birthlessness, duration / occurrence / existence & occurrencelessness / non-existence, change & changelessness, rebirth & rebirthlessness, cessation / death / extinction & deathlessness / extinctionlessness;
-
BEYOND the existence and non-existence of apparent opposites [Uopp / U2T-opp / U3S-opp] like:
ex. BEYOND movement & rest, noise & silence, action & non-action, thinking & non-thinking, mentation & non-mentation, ideation & non-ideation, description / conceptualisation & non-description / non-conceptualisation, discrimination / differentiation / duality & non-discrimination / non-differentiation / non-duality, causality / production & acausality / non-production / spontaneity, matter-energy & anti-matter / anti-energy, space & spacelessness, time & timelessness, describability & indescribability, conception & non-conception, conceivability & inconceivability, acceptation & rejection,
ex. BEYOND right & left, up & down, top & bottom, front & back, good & evil, before & after, happiness & suffering / misery, purity & impurity, significant & meaningless, acceptation & rejection, grasping & non-grasping, being bounded / samsara & being liberated / nirvana,
ex. BEYOND difference & identity / sameness, separation & unification, manyness & oneness, duality & non-duality, characterlessness & uniqueness, permanence & impermanence, continuity & discontinuity, destructibility & indestructibility, coming & going,
ex. BEYOND Buddha & Dharma & Sangha, body & speech & mind, wholesome, & unwholesome & neutral, voidness & signlessness & wishlessness, darkness & light, path & no-path, gradual & sudden, merit & wisdom, truth & falsehood, sight & non-sight, wisdom & ignorance,
-
BEYOND the existence and non-existence of the Two Truths [U2T / Uopp-2T / U3S-2T & U2T-2T]: BEYOND dependent origination / causality [T1] & independent origination / spontaneity, conventionality & universality, relativity & absoluteness, functionality & non-functionality, emptiness [T2] & non-emptiness, self & selflessness, dependent origination / relativity / appearance / functionality [T1] & emptiness [T2], mundane & transcendental, real & non-real / illusory, truth & falsehood, existence & non-existence,

BEYOND the existence and non-existence of the three spheres [U3S / U2T-3S / Uopp-3S]: ex. BEYOND subject & relation / action & object, cause & causality & effect, goer & going & destination, perceiver & perceived & perception, knower & cognition & known, owner / ‘I’ & ownership & possession / mine / 5-aggregates, wholes & composition & parts, acquirer & acquiring & acquisition / karma,
BEYOND causality & acausality, action & non-action, speech & non-speech, thinking & non-thinking, going & non-going, perception & non-perception, knowing & non-knowing, owning & non-owning, self & non-self, mine & non-mine, opposition and non-opposition, relation & non-relation, object & non-object, karma & non-karma,

But still we can point to this inconceivable Reality as it is using without using concepts like:
– the inconceivable Non-duality / the Union of apparent opposites [Uopp];
– the inconceivable Union of the Two Truths [U2T]: Union of conventionally dependently co-arisen (interdependent) relatively functional ever-changing impermanent appearances, merely labeled / imputed by the mind <==> and emptiness of inherent existence;
– the inconceivable Union of the three spheres [U3S] – subject, relation / action, object –;
– the inconceivable Middle Way free from all extremes & middle, with nothing to accept or reject in absolute terms, just conventionally / relatively / inter-subjectively;
– the tetralemma;
– the illusory-like, magic-like, miracle-like nature of everything: ‘there but not there’;
– the inconceivable primordially spontaneity, timelessness, limitlessness, equality, purity, perfection, divinity, completeness, freedom, beauty, enlightenment / trikaya – in the non-dual sense of those terms.)

[Go to TOC]

[ii. SUB-SECTIONS OF CHAP. 9:]

(i.e. It is always the same treatment for different groups of apparent opposites / dualities / triads / quads / etc.. It is always about the Union of the Two Truths about all dharmas [U2T], the Union of the three spheres of any type of relations / actions [U3S / U2T-3S], the Union of apparent opposites in any duality / triad / quad / etc. [Uopp / U2T-opp], the Middle Way free from all extremes & middle, free from all dualistic conceptual proliferations, free from all defining limitations, free from all conditioning / karma.
See the meaning of the term ‘Union’ below.

Union of opposites like the 3 stages of becoming – origination / production, duration / occurrence, cessation / extinction;
Union of opposites like the 3 spheres of ownership – subject / actor / owner / ‘I’, relation / action / ownership / possessiveness, object / result / possession / mine;
Union of opposites like impurity / defilement <==> purity / purification;
Union of opposites like distraction / perception / mentation / ideation / thinking / conceptualisation / action / movement <==> attention / non-perception / non-mentation / non-ideation / non-thinking / non-conceptualisation / non-action / rest;
Union of opposites like the various buddhist vehicles / spirits;
Union of opposites like accepting / affirming / seeking / adding / doing / grasping <==> rejecting / negating / abandoning / subtracting / not-doing / not-grasping;
Union of opposites like difference / separation / manyness / duality / uniqueness <==> identity / unification / oneness / non-duality / characterlessness;
Union of opposites like good / significant <==> bad / evil / meaningless;
Union of opposites like sinfulness / being bound / samsara <==> sinlessness / being liberated / nirvana;
Union of opposites like conception / perception / mentation / ideation / thinking / conceptualisation / action / movement <==> non-conception / non-perception / non-mentation / non-ideation / non-thinking / non-conceptualisation / non-action / rest;
Union of opposites like happiness <==> misery / suffering;
Union of opposites like mundane / ordinary <==> transcendental / beyond;
Union of opposites like being bound / samsara <==> being liberated / nirvana;
Union of opposites like indestructibility / permanence / continuity / eternity<==> destructibility / impermanence / discontinuity / annihilation;
Union of opposites like existence / self <==> non-existence / selflessness;
Union of opposites like ignorance <==> wisdom / knowledge;
Union of opposites like the Two Truths – appearances <==> emptiness;
Union of opposites like the basic elements of reality – Laws, matter-energy, space, time;
Union of opposites like the 3 spheres of perception / cognition – subject actor / perceiver / knower, relation / action / perception / cognition / sense organs, object / result / perceived / known;
Union of opposites like accepting / affirming / seeking / adding / doing / being attached <==> rejecting / negating / abandoning / subtracting / not-doing / being averse to phenomena;
Union of opposites like the 3 spheres of causality – subject / actor / producer / cause / accumulating merit & wisdom, relation / action / production / causality, object / result / product / effect / omniscience;
Union of opposites like the three doors of liberation – emptiness / selflessness, signlessness / formlessness, aimlessness / no goal,
Union of opposites like the three marks of existence – non-self / selflessness, impermanence, unsatisfactoriness / suffering;
Union of opposites like the three jewels – Buddha, Dharma, Sangha;
Union of opposites like the 3 stages of becoming – origination / production, duration / occurrence, cessation / extinction;
Union of opposites like the three types of actions / karma – actions of the body, speech & mind;
Union of opposites like the three types of actions / karma – wholesome, unwholesome, neutral actions;
Union of opposites like conception / perception / mentation / ideation / thinking / conceptualisation / action / movement <==> non-conception / non-perception / non-mentation / non-ideation / non-thinking / non-conceptualisation / non-action / rest;
Union of opposites like accepting / affirming / seeking / adding / doing / grasping <==> rejecting / negating / abandoning / subtracting / not-doing / not-grasping;
Union of opposites like darkness <==> light;
Union of opposites like accepting / affirming / seeking / adding / doing / grasping / rejoicing in liberation or nirvana <==> rejecting / negating / abandoning / subtracting / not-doing / not-grasping / detesting the world or samsara;
Union of opposites like good <==> bad paths;
Union of opposites like path <==> non-path;
Union of opposites like truth / sight / perception <==> falsehood / non-sight / non-perception, or
Union of opposites like the 3 spheres of perception / cognition – subject actor / perceiver / knower, relation / action / perception / cognition, object / result / perceived / known;
Union of opposites like duality <==> non-duality;
Reality as it is is indescribable / inconceivable - beyond all extremes & middle, beyond all dualistic conceptual proliferations, beyond all defining limitations, beyond all conditioning / karma, … beyond movement & rest, beyond noise & silence.)

[Go to TOC]

[iii. THE MEANING OF UNION:]

(i.e. In each case, ‘Union of opposites’ or ‘<==>’ means that the apparent opposites, or three spheres, or two truths, are not really existent and in real opposition, but are more like inseparable / interdependent / co-defined / co-relative / co-dependent / co-emergent / co-evolving / co-cessing / co-transcended / in harmony / non-dual – in the non-dual sese of those terms <==> thus all empty of independent / absolute / inherent existence.

[Union of the Two Truths about the apparent opposites:] It means that the apparent opposites are more like a Union of being conventionally dependently co-arisen (interdependent) relatively functional ever-changing impermanent appearances [T1], objects merely co-labeled / co-imputed / co-imagined / co-created / co-evolving by/with the subject / mind in co-dependence of its conditioning / karma [U3S], not completely non-existent<==> and being empty of inherent existence [T2], not really existent. One aspect / truth implies / proves the other (<==>) [U2T]. They are empty because interdependent / relative, and interdependent / relative because empty. Emptiness means limitlessly relative, infinitely open / free, ungraspable, indescribable / inconceivable – where everything is possible –. It also means that there are no real dependent origination / birth, duration / life / change / rebirth, cessation / death / extinction of anything; no real continuity or discontinuity; no solid basis for any discrimination / differentiation; no solid basis for any preference, acceptation or rejection in absolute terms, just conventionally / relatively / inter-subjectively. No real interdependence / relativity and emptiness.

[Like illusions:] Meaning they are all apparently inherently existing and apparently inherently different / separate / multiple / dual / in opposition; but that is just like a dream / magical illusion / trick of the sight / mirage / reflection / echo / City of Gandharvas / emanated apparition. 'They are there but not there'.

[Tetralemma:] It means that the apparent opposites are

– not existent, not completely non-existent, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth;

– not different / separate / multiple / dual, not identical / united / one / non-dual, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth;

– not permanent / continuous / eternal / indestructible, not impermanent / discontinuous / annihilated / destructible, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth;

– not good / pure / desirable / to accept / to seek, not completely bad / evil / impure / undesirable / to reject / to abandon, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth;

– not purely objective / physical / body, not purely subjective / mental / mind, not purely relational / process / conceptual / speech, not two or three of them together, not none of them, and there is no other possibility;

– not merely labeled / imputed / conceptualised by the mind, not not-merely labeled / imputed / conceptualised by the mind, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth;

– not dependent / caused / produced / functional, not independent / uncaused/spontaneous / unproduced / non-functional, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth;

– not composite / contextual / conditioned, not non-composite / non-contextual / unconditioned, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth;

– not empty, not non-empty, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth;

– not dependently originated / lasting for a while and changing / and ultimately ceasing or extinguished, not completely non-dependently-originated / non-lasting / non-ceasing, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth;

– not dependently arisen (first truth alone [T1]), not empty of inherent existence (second truth alone [T2]), not both together (both truths together as different and in opposition [2T]), not neither (none of the two truths or taking the two truths as identical / one [1T], not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth;

– not unequal / impure / imperfect / ordinary / incomplete / conditioned / ugly / unenlightened, not equal / pure / perfect / divine / complete / free / beautiful / enlightened, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth;

– not unreal / identical to illusions / dreams / mirage / magic tricks, not real / different from illusions / dreams / mirage / magic tricks, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth;

– not describable / conceivable / meaningful, not indescribable / inconceivable / meaningless, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth;

– not this, not non-this, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth -- for whatever ‘this’ could be -- (this could be generalised for groups of more than two apparent opposites; ex. the three spheres, the three kayas, the three gems, the three times, the four cardinal directions, the five …, the six ...).

[Inconceivability:] Meaning their true nature & dynamic (Ground / Suchness / U2T) is indescribable / inconceivable (in absolute terms) for our flawed conditioned dualistic conceptual mind(s); it is beyond all extremes & middle, beyond all dualistic conceptual proliferations, beyond all limits, beyond all conditioning / karma; beyond all description / conceptualisation, discrimination / differentiation, causality / production, matter-energy, space & time.

[No absolute basis:] So there is no independent / universal / absolute / inherently existing basis for any discrimination / differentiation in absolute terms, just conventionally / relatively / inter-subjectively.

[Middle Way:] And there is nothing to accept / affirm / seek / add / do in absolute terms, nothing to reject / negate / abandon / eliminate / subtract / not-do in absolute terms, just conventionally / relatively / inter-subjectively if it helps someone get closer to the inconceivable liberating Truth: the Union of the Two Truths about all dharmas [U2T], the Union of the three spheres [U3S / U2T-3S], the Union of apparent opposites [Uopp / U2T-opp], the Middle Way in everything, the tetralemma, the primordial spontaneity / equality / purity / perfection / divinity / completeness / freedom / beauty / enlightenment / trikaya of all dharmas.

In that sense everything is primordially spontaneous, timeless, limitless, equal, pure, perfect, divine, complete, free, beautiful, enlightened / trikaya – in the non-dual sense of those terms.
Everything is like the pristine display of the Ground / Suchness / Union of the Two Truths [U2T].)

[Go to TOC]

[iv. THE DOORS TO NON-DUALITY:]

(i.e. In each section, the author concludes by pointing out the entrance / door into non-duality (i.e. into the inconceivable true nature & dynamic of Reality as it is here & now / Suchness / Buddha-nature / Genuine-emptiness: the inconceivable Union of the Two Truths [U2T], the Union of the three spheres [U3S / U2T-3S], the Union of opposites [Uopp], the Union of the Two Truths about those opposites [U2T-opp], the Middle Way free from all extremes & middle.)

the attainment of the tolerance of the birthlessness of things
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like the three stages of becoming – origination / production, duration / occurrence, cessation / extinction –)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
the absence of presumption about me (subject) & mine (object)
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like the three spheres of ownership – subject / actor / owner / ‘I’, relation / action / ownership / possessiveness, object / result / possession / mine –)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
the complete conquest of all conceit (pride) about one’s purification
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like defilement and purification of our body, speech and mind)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
the absence of mental intensity (movement or rest)
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like movement / distraction and rest / attention)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
the sameness of natures of spirits (of all paths)
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like the various Buddhist paths – absolutist dualistic and non-absolutist non-dualistic paths –)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
the inaction and non-involvement of all things (not accepting not rejecting) – the middle Way in everything –
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like movement / grasping / accepting and rest / non-grasping / rejecting)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
to penetrate the equality of these two – uniqueness (difference) and characterlessness (identity)
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like difference / uniqueness and identity / characterlessness)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
the understanding of the non-duality of the significant (good) and the meaningless (evil)
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like good / significant and bad / evil / meaningless)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
not to be bound or liberated
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like being bounded / samsara and being liberated / nirvana)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
to enter the absence of conceptual knots (conception of non-conception)
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like movement / conception / impurity and rest / non-conception / purity)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
to being free of all calculations (acceptation and rejection), through the extreme purity of gnosis (direct wisdom)
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like happiness and misery / suffering)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
neither to transcend (reject / abandon) nor to be involved (acceptation), neither to go nor to stop
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like mundane / getting involved and transcendental)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
neither belonging to life (samsara) nor being one utterly liberated from (nirvana)
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like being bounded / samsara and being liberated / nirvana)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
transcending both destructibility (impermanence / discontinuity / annihilation) & indestructibility (permanence / continuity / eternity)
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like destructibility / impermanence and destructibility / permanence)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
the non-dualism of the vision of the nature of self (appearance) & non-self (emptiness)
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like existence / self / appearances and non-existence / selflessness / emptiness)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
realisation of the sameness of ignorance & knowledge (wisdom)
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like ignorance and wisdom / knowledge)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
understanding of the Union of the Two Truths about the five aggregates
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like the two truths – appearances and emptiness –)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
understanding of the Union of the irreducible elements
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like the basic elements of reality / irreducible elements)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
to know the mind, and to be neither attached (accepting), averse (rejecting), nor confused (ignorance) with regard to phenomena - that is called 'peace.'
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like the three spheres of perception / cognition – subject actor / perceiver / knower, relation / action / perception / cognition / sense organs, object / result / perceived / known –)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
the entrance into this principle of uniqueness of cause & effect
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like the three spheres of causality / production – subject / actor / producer / cause / accumulating merit & wisdom, relation / action / production / causality, object / result / product / effect / omniscience –)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
to see the doors of all liberations in the door of one liberation
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like the three doors of liberation – emptiness / selflessness, signlessness / formlessness, aimlessness / no goal –)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
realising the same nature of the three jewels
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like the three jewels – Buddha, Dharma, Sangha –)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
non-occurrence and non-destruction of the five aggregates
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like the three stages of becoming – origination / production, duration / occurrence, cessation / extinction –)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
to know and to understand this fact of the ultimate inactivity of all things, this knowledge
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like the three types of actions / karma – actions of the body, speech & mind)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
the non-accomplishment of such actions – meritorious, sinful, and neutral –
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like the three types of actions / karma – wholesome, unwholesome, neutral actions)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
the absence (transcendence) of ideation
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like movement / ideation and rest / non-ideation)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
not grasping and not rejecting
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like movement / accepting / grasping and rest / rejecting / non-grasping)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
the entrance into this equanimity toward darkness & light
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like darkness and light)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
the mendicant who is neither bound nor liberated does not experience any like or any dislike
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like movement / accepting / rejoicing in liberation or nirvana and rest / rejecting / detesting the world or samsara)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
Understanding the true nature & dynamic of dualistic concepts / appearances, not engaging (accepting) in duality in absolute terms [U2T-opp], not rejecting it all completely either [the Middle Way]
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like right and wrong paths, path and no-path)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
Perceiving without perceiving the two truths [U2T-2T] – false appearances & true emptiness –: union of the 3 spheres of perception / cognition [U3S / U2T-3S]:
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like the three spheres of perception / cognition – subject actor / perceiver / knower, relation / action / perception / cognition, object / result / perceived / known –, or truth and falsehood)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
All descriptions / explanations / representations of anything are necessarily limited conditioned conceptual dualistic fabrications, thus flawed – even more so when trying to present the inconceivable true nature of Reality as it is here & now which is beyond all extremes & middle, beyond all dualistic conceptual proliferations, beyond all defining limitations, beyond all conditioning / karma – physical / body, conceptual / speech, mental / mind –. Which is even beyond movement / activity / noise / speech / representation / conception & rest / non-activity / SILENCE / non-speech / non-representation / non-conception. The solution is not to do it or not-do it, to accept it or reject it, but to be fully aware of their true nature & dynamic while using them, thus benefiting from them [T1] without being fooled by them [T2] [U2T], without being slave to them.
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like duality and non-duality)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is);
Inconceivable: no words / images / language … can elucidate the true meaning of non-duality / the union of opposites / the union of the two truths / the union of the three spheres / enlightenment / reality as it is here & now – it has to be directly realised – but, still, we have tons of relatively useful books about it, including this excellent sutra. so it is not about accepting nor rejecting our body speech & mind; our physical, conceptual and mental fabrications; our individual, collective and cosmic / universal fabrications; samsara and nirvana.
(i.e. Non-duality / Uopp / U2T-opp: understanding / perceiving / realising / experiencing the true nature & dynamic of
apparent opposites like movement / communicating and rest / silence)
is the entrance into non-duality (i.e. a door to the inconceivable liberating Truth about Reality as it is.)

[Go to TOC]

—------------------------

[TEXTS:]

(From the Introduction: … and in the eighth (ninth) chapter Vimalakīrti individually questions the bodhisattvas present about how each of them practices non-duality, receiving thirty-one different replies all of which Mañjuśrī finds laudable, but nevertheless still tinged with dualism. He requests Vimalakīrti to add his own point of view, to which Vimalakīrti’s responds with his famous silence.)

(Résumé: Inconceivability of ‘genuine non-duality’ beyond all extremes & middle: beyond duality & non-duality, existence & non-existence, movement & rest, acceptation & rejection, subject & object, action & non-action, causality & acausality, purity & impurity, difference & identity, manyness & oneness, truth & falsehood, samsara & nirvana, appearance & emptiness, etc. Reality as it is is indescribable / inconceivable, beyond all extremes & middle, beyond all dualistic conceptual proliferations, beyond all defining limitations, beyond all conditioning / karma; beyond all description / conceptualisation, discrimination / differentiation, causality / production, matter-energy, space & time. In Reality as it is [U2T], everything is like dreams / magical illusions / tricks of the sight / mirages / reflections / echos / Cities of Gandharvas / emanated apparitions. Everything is more like empty of inherent existence [T2], not really existent <==> because dependently co-arisen / interdependent [T1] (and vice versa (<==>) [U2T]), like objects merely co-labeled / co-imputed / co-imagined / co-created / co-evolving by/with the subject / mind [U3S], not completely non-existent. There are no real three stages of becoming – i. dependent origination / beginning / birth / coming / before / past, ii. duration / middle / life / change / during / present, iii. cessation / ending / death / going / after / future - or the nirvana extinction of the five aggregates – . There is no real opposition between apparent conceptual opposites in dualities / triads / quads / etc.; they are more like inseparable, interdependent … in harmony. There is no basis for any discrimination / differentiation / partiality in absolute terms, just conventionally / relatively / inter-subjectively. There is there is nothing to accept / affirm / seek / add / do in absolute terms, nothing to reject / negate / abandon / eliminate / subtract / not-do in absolute terms, just conventionally / relatively / inter-subjectively if it helps someone get closer to the inconceivable liberating Truth [U2T]. Everything is more like primordially spontaneous, timeless, limitless, equal, pure, perfect, divine, complete, free, beautiful, enlightened / trikaya – in the non-dual sense of those terms. Everything is like the pristine display of the Ground / Suchness / Union of the Two Truths [U2T].)

[Go to TOC]

Comments: Robert Thurman: Vimalakirti Video #8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP4LIm9vC2E

Then, the Licchavi Vimalakirti asked those bodhisattvas,

"Good sirs, please explain how the bodhisattvas enter the Dharma-door of non-duality [Union of opposites]!"

(Thurman's recent edition: Then, the Licchavi Vimalakīrti asked those bodhisattvas,
“Good sirs, please explain how the bodhisattvas enter the Dharma-door of non-duality!”)

(Thomas Cleary translation: Then the Licchavi Vimalakirti said to those bodhisattvas,
“Good people, what is bodhisattvas’ entry into undivided truth?”)

[1. UNION OF THE 3 STAGES OF BECOMING / THREE TIMES [U3T / U2T-3T]: ex. i. dependent origination / beginning / birth / coming / before / past, ii. duration / middle / life / change / during / present, iii. cessation / ending / death / going / after / future - or the nirvana extinction of the five aggregates.]

[Thurman's first edition:]
The bodhisattva Dharmavikurvana declared,

"Noble sir, production (origination) and destruction (cessation / extinction) are two,
(i.e. They are apparently inherently existing and apparently inherently different / separate / multiple / dual / in opposition; but that is just like a dream / magical illusion / trick of the sight / mirage / reflection / echo / City of Gandharvas / emanated apparition. 'There but not there'.)
but what is not produced (origination / birth) and does not occur (duration) cannot be destroyed (cessation / death / extinction).
Thus the attainment of the tolerance of the birthlessness of things is the entrance into non-duality."

(i.e. Tolerance of non reality (emptiness, not existence), and non complete irreality (not complete non-existence, dependently co-arisen relatively functional appearances), of the three stages of becoming; tolerance of the beginninglessness / birthlessness / productionlessness, occurencelessness / lifelessness, changelessness / rebirthlessness, and endinglessness / deathlessness / destructionlessness / extinctionlessness – of all things (subjects / beings, relations / actions, objects / phenomena / things) x (physical, conceptual, mental) x (individual, collective, universal) x (past, present, future) x (pure, impure) –. So we should not accept those three stages of becoming of any thing as they appear to be, nor reject them as if completely non-existent / meaningless / useless. ‘They are there but not there’: they are conventional / interdependent / limitlessly relative <==> but still ultimately empty of inherent existence; and vice versa.)

(Thurman's recent edition: The bodhisattva Dharmavikurvaṇa declared,
“Noble sir, production (dependent origination) and destruction (cessation) are (apparently / conventionally) two,
but (ultimately) what is not produced (dependent origination) and does not occur (duration / existence) cannot be destroyed (cessation / extinction).
Thus the attainment of the tolerance of the birthlessness of things is the entrance into non-duality.”)

(Thomas Cleary translation: A bodhisattva there named Dharmavikurvana said,
“Sir, production and destruction are distinguished;
what is not produced and is not born has no destruction.
Attainment of acceptance of the truth of no origin is entry into non-duality.”)

(i.e. The attainment of the tolerance of the birthlessness, occurrencelessness, rebirthlessness, and destructionlessness / extinctionlessness of all things – There are no real / independent / universal / absolute / inherently existing origination, duration, cessation / death / destruction / nirvana extinction of the five aggregate –: Those apparent opposites – the three stages of becoming of any thing / being / relation / action – are apparently inherently existent and apparently inherently independent / different / separate / independent / multiple / dual / in opposition; but in reality they are more like in harmony; they are more like empty of inherent existence [T2] <==> because inseparable / interdependent / co-defined / co-relative / co-dependent / co-emergent / co-evolving / co-ceasing / co-transcended [T1] [T2], like objects merely co-labeled / co-imputed / co-imagined / co-created / co-evolving by/with the subject / mind in co-dependence of its conditioning / karma [U3S]. And vice versa; One aspect / truth implies / proves the other (<==>). They are not existent, not completely non-existent or non-functional, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth; not different / separate / multiple / dual, not identical / united / one / non-dual, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth; not permanent / continuous / eternal, not impermanent / discontinuous / annihilated, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth; etc. Meaning their true nature is inconceivable, beyond all extremes & middle, beyond all dualistic conceptual proliferations, beyond all defining limitations, beyond all conditioning / karma. So there is no solid basis to describe and discriminate / differentiate / oppose / classify them in absolute terms, or to not-describe and not-discriminate / not-differentiate / not-oppose / not classify them completely; they are still valid meaningful useful conventionally dependently co-arisen (interdependent) relatively functional ever-changing impermanent appearances [T1], not completely non-existent or non-functional <==> even if empty of inherent existence [T2] [U2T], not really existent or deterministic. So it is ok to use them, to describe / conceptualise / differentiate / classify them conventionally / relatively / inter-subjectively, but never in absolute terms. Reality as it is is beyond all dualistic concepts / dualism.)

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Vimalakirti Sutra Part III - 203

203 - Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra- PART III : chapter 9 –

TABLE OF CONTENT OF PART III (chapter 9 only)

9. THE DHARMA-DOOR OF NON-DUALITY(Union of opposites [Uopp / U2T-opp])

[RÉSUMÉS:]

[i. TRANSCENDING OPPOSITES:]

[ii. SUB-SECTIONS OF CHAP. 9:]

[iii. THE MEANING OF UNION:]

[iv. THE DOORS TO NON-DUALITY:]

[TEXTS:]

[2. UNION OF THE 3 SPHERES OF OWNERSHIP [U3S / U2T-3S]: ex. subject / actor / owner / self, relation / action / ownership, object / result / possession / mine / 5 aggregates.]

[3. UNION OF IMPURITY / DEFILEMENT <==> PURITY / PURIFICATION [Uopp / U2T-opp]:]

[5. UNION OF THE VARIOUS BUDDHIST VEHICLES [Uopp / U2T-opp]:]

[6. UNION OF ACCEPTING / GRASPING / SEEKING <==> REJECTING / NOT-GRASPING / ABANDONING [Uopp / U2T-opp]:]

[7. UNION OF DIFFERENCE / SEPARATION / MANYNESS / DUALITY <==> IDENTITY / UNIFICATION / ONENESS / NON-DUALITY [Uopp]: Everything is not different / separate / many / dual, not identical / united / one / non-dual, not both together, not neither. Meaning inconceivable, beyond all extremes & middle.]

[8. UNION OF GOOD / SIGNIFICANT <==> BAD / EVIL / MEANINGLESS [Uopp / U2T-opp]:]

[9. UNION OF SINFULNESS / BEING BOUND / SAMSARA <==> SINLESSNESS / BEING LIBERATED / NIRVANA [Uopp / U2T-opp]:]

[11. UNION OF HAPPINESS <==> MISERY / SUFFERING [Uopp / U2T-opp]:]

[12. UNION OF MUNDANE / ORDINARY / SAMSARA / APPEARANCES <==> TRANSCENDENTAL / BEYOND / NIRVANA / EMPTINESS [U2T]:]

[13. UNION OF BEING BOUND / SAMSARA <==> BEING LIBERATED / NIRVANA [Uopp / U2T-opp]:]

[14. UNION OF PERMANENCE / CONTINUITY / ETERNITY / INDESTRUCTIBILITY <==> IMPERMANENCE / DISCONTINUITY / ANNIHILATION / DESTRUCTIBILITY [Uopp / U2T-opp]:]

[15. UNION OF EXISTENCE / SELF / APPEARANCES / FUNCTIONALITIES / CAUSALITY <==> NON-EXISTENCE / NO-SELF / EMPTINESS [U2T]:] ***

[16. UNION OF IGNORANCE <==> WISDOM / KNOWLEDGE [Uopp / U2T-opp]:]

[17. UNION OF THE TWO TRUTHS [U2T]: APPEARANCES <==> EMPTINESS:] ***

[18. UNION OF THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF REALITY: Modern example: definitions, causality / laws, matter-energy, space & time …:]

[20. UNION OF THE 3 SPHERES OF CAUSALITY [U3S / U2T-3S]: ex. subject / cause / dedication, relation / action / causality, object / effect / omniscience:]

[21. UNION OF THE 3 DOORS OF LIBERATION, UNION OF THE 3 MARKS OF EXISTENCE [Uopp / U2T-opp]:]

[22. UNION OF THE 3 JEWELS [U3J] – Buddha, Dharma, Sangha [Uopp / U2T-opp]]

[24. UNION OF THE 3 TYPES OF ACTIONS / KARMA – actions of the body, speech & mind [Uopp / U2T-opp]:]

[25. UNION OF THE 3 TYPES OF ACTIONS / KARMA – wholesome, unwholesome, neutral actions [Uopp / U2T-opp]:]

[26. UNION OF CONCEPTUALISATION <==> NON-CONCEPTUALISATION, UNION OF THINKING <==> NON-THINKING, UNION OF IDEATION <==> NON-IDEATION, UNION OF ACTION <==> NON-ACTION, UNION OF MOVEMENT <==> REST … [Uopp / U2T-opp]:]

[27. UNION OF ACCEPTATING / GRASPING / SEEKING <==> REJECTING / NON-GRASPING / ABANDONING [Uopp / U2T-opp]:]

[28. UNION OF DARKNESS <==> LIGHT [Uopp / U2T-opp]:]

[29. UNION OF REJECTING / DISLIKING SAMSARA / APPEARANCES <==> SEEKING / LIKING NIRVANA / EMPTINESS [Uopp / U2T-opp]:]

[30. UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE NATURE & DYNAMIC OF DUALISTIC CONCEPTS / APPEARANCES, NOT ENGAGING (ACCEPTING) IN DUALITY IN ABSOLUTE TERMS [U2T-opp], NOT REJECTING IT ALL COMPLETELY EITHER [the Middle Way]:]

[31. PERCEIVING WITHOUT PERCEIVING THE TWO TRUTHS [U2T-2T] – FALSE APPEARANCES & TRUE EMPTINESS –: UNION OF THE 3 SPHERES OF PERCEPTION / COGNITION [U3S / U2T-3S]: ex. subject / actor / perceiver / knower, relation / action / perception / cognition, object / result / perceived / known:]

203 - Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra
- PART III : chapter 9 –

9. THE DHARMA-DOOR OF NON-DUALITY
(Union of opposites [Uopp / U2T-opp])