Discourse on the Father and Son Sutra (130)

Emptiness, Signlessness, Wishlessness: The Three Dharma Gates Progressing Step by Step to Ultimate Liberation

Emptiness devoid of the sign of emptiness is called the Gate of Liberation of Signlessness. The Dharma of emptiness has no sign that can be seen, spoken of, or pointed out. Even emptiness itself is empty; this is the Gate of Liberation of Signlessness. Knowing that emptiness has no sign whatsoever, not even emptiness exists, the mind becomes even more liberated. If even the sign of emptiness does not exist, if even emptiness is absent, then why would one cling to emptiness?

If there is no sign, then there is nothing to wish for. If even signs do not exist, what do we seek? What wish or desire remains? There is nothing further to seek; this is the Gate of Liberation of Wishlessness. Without wish or desire, the mind becomes even more liberated. Emptiness, signlessness, wishlessness – when we accomplish these Three Gates of Liberation, we become sages.

The Three Dharmas of Emptiness, Signlessness, and Wishlessness proceed together with emptiness. They neither depart from emptiness nor possess the sign of emptiness, yet the three are inseparable. Progressing step by step, they lead to ultimate liberation. If we wish to enter Nirvana and attain non-arising and non-ceasing, we should practice accordingly: continuously generate the mental state of emptiness, becoming progressively emptier until even emptiness itself is empty, only then is emptiness utterly pure and complete. If the mind still holds onto an idea of emptiness, then true emptiness has not been attained; one should still eliminate the mind that clings to emptiness. On the path to Nirvana, one should cultivate and learn in this way to attain Nirvana. Nirvana is liberation; Nirvana is non-arising and non-ceasing; Nirvana is quiescent and unconditioned; Nirvana is great freedom.