Dharma Abides in Its Position, and Worldly Phenomena Constantly Remain

The Lotus Sutra states: "The Dharma abides in the Dharma position; the appearances of the world are constantly present." The Dharma and the appearances of the world mentioned here are certainly distinct; otherwise, the World-Honored One would not have spoken of them separately. The appearances of the world are neither free nor autonomous—they are subject to arising, ceasing, changing, and impermanence. Why, then, does it state here that they are permanent? Dharma subject to arising and ceasing and impermanence must rely upon a Dharma that is neither arising nor ceasing and is eternally abiding, in order to continuously give birth, continuously change, and perish. As long as this eternally abiding Dharma does not cease, the world will forever and continuously arise and cease without end. Individual appearances of the world exist for a period of time and then perish, yet the collective appearances of the world constantly and continuously persist. This is all due to the eternally abiding Dharma of the eighth consciousness, which neither arises nor ceases.

The eighth consciousness is distinct from the appearances of the world and does not mingle with them. It forever abides in the pure state of nirvāṇa. Regardless of how the appearances of the world arise, cease, and change, it does not participate in them. It remains unmoving, like thusness (tathatā), without following the appearances of the world to stir the mind, without undergoing any changes, and without any afflictions or ignorance. Therefore, the essential nature of the eighth consciousness, this Dharma, forever abides unmoving in the pure and undefiled state of nirvāṇa. Consequently, the worldly phenomena born from it will continuously and perpetually arise and perish without end, ensuring the unceasing existence of worldly phenomena.