Lecture Notes on the Sutra of the Compendium of Father and Son (32)

The water element and the nature of the water element are both unobtainable.

Original Text: Great King, this appearance of the water element arises without coming from anywhere and ceases without going anywhere. At the moment of arising, it is fundamentally empty; at the moment of cessation, it is also empty. Because its intrinsic nature is empty, there is no male form, nor is there a female form. It is merely demonstrated through verbal expression. Thus, the water element and the nature of the water element are both unobtainable. Only the Buddha's perfect wisdom can fully comprehend this.

Explanation: The Buddha said: Great King, the appearance of the water element itself is empty, and its intrinsic nature is also empty. If its nature were not empty, then when water arises, it would have an origin, and when it dries up, it would certainly have a destination. Yet when the water element arises, it has no origin; when it ceases, it has no destination. At the moment of arising, the water element is empty; at the moment of cessation, the water element is also empty.

Because the fundamental nature of the water element is empty, the nature of the water element itself possesses no male form nor female form. However, when the water element forms our physical body, it manifests male and female forms. Thus, our male and female forms are also illusory and empty. They are merely displayed through verbal expressions; there is no substantial male or female form. Therefore, it is said that the water element and the nature of the water element are both utterly unobtainable. Only the Buddha's profound and great wisdom can fully comprehend these truths.