Commentary on the Sutra of the Father-Son Compendium (41)

The Fire Element and Its Nature Are Both Ungraspable

Original: Great King, the nature of this fire element has no origin in birth and no destination in extinction. When born, it is fundamentally empty; when extinguished, it is also empty. Because its inherent nature is empty, it is merely displayed by words. Thus, the fire element and the nature of fire are both ungraspable. Only the Buddha's right wisdom can fully comprehend this.

Explanation: Great King, the nature of this fire element has no origin in birth and no destination in extinction. Before the fire element is born, there is no place from which it comes; when it extinguishes, there is no place to which it goes. The nature of fire is fundamentally empty; it arises from emptiness as a slight existence, which then gradually develops and grows, and then extinguishes; when it extinguishes, it is also empty, with no place to go. The inherent nature of the fire element is empty, illusory, not truly existent; it is merely a false appearance displayed by language. Therefore, it is said that the fire element and the nature of fire are both ungraspable; only the Buddha's right wisdom can fully comprehend them.