The Four Attributes of Nirvana

The four virtues of Nirvana—eternity, bliss, self, and purity—represent a state, a condition, and a nature. Eternity, bliss, self, and purity constitute the self-abiding state of the great perfect mirror wisdom at the Buddha stage, manifested through the great perfect mirror wisdom, yet they themselves are not ultimate reality. Only the great perfect mirror wisdom is the true entity, true reality, and true dharma. The Nirvana at the Buddha stage, manifested through the great perfect mirror wisdom, is also not an ultimate entity, not ultimate reality, and not an ultimate dharma. Apart from the ālaya-vijñāna, apart from the vipāka-vijñāna, and apart from the amala-vijñāna, all other dharmas are entirely displayed and manifested by the Tathāgatagarbha, existing by relying on the Tathāgatagarbha and inseparable from it. Only the Tathāgatagarbha does not rely on any dharma; it exists independently, without dependence, standing independently.