Does the Dharma Negate Worldly Dharmas?

The Dharma neither negates worldly phenomena nor fails to negate them. Why is this said? Because if worldly phenomena were not negated, sentient beings would cling to them and fail to liberate themselves from the suffering of birth and death. On the other hand, if the Dharma negated worldly phenomena entirely, then worldly phenomena would have no basis for existence, leaving only the Tathagatagarbha. In that case, all sentient beings would abide in nirvana without residue, with no world or sentient beings remaining.

How then does the Dharma negate worldly phenomena? The Four Noble Truths and the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination are precisely the means to negate worldly phenomena. The Four Noble Truths reveal that the world is characterized by suffering, emptiness, impermanence, and non-self. Sentient beings who recognize and realize this truth eradicate afflictions and attain liberation. The Twelve Links of Dependent Origination reveal that all phenomena in the world arise from causes and conditions and are therefore empty. Realizing this truth, one extinguishes ignorance, ceases craving and clinging to worldly phenomena, and thereby liberates oneself from worldly suffering. From the perspective of Mahayana, all worldly phenomena are illusory manifestations of the Tathagatagarbha; thus, worldly phenomena are empty, illusory, and unreal—this too negates worldly phenomena. Both Mahayana and Hinayana enable sentient beings to recognize and realize that the five aggregates are empty and devoid of self, and that the six sense faculties, six sense objects, and six sense consciousnesses are empty, false, and devoid of self. This negates the worldly phenomena of the five aggregates.

How does the Dharma not negate worldly phenomena? From the perspectives of Prajñāpāramitā (Perfection of Wisdom) and Vijñapti-mātratā (Consciousness-Only), all dharmas are Suchness (Tathatā), and Suchness establishes all worldly phenomena—this is the non-negation of worldly phenomena. "Dharmas abide in their own nature; worldly appearances are eternally abiding"—this is the non-negation of worldly phenomena. The Tathagatagarbha possesses the perfected reality nature (pariniṣpanna-svabhāva), capable of perfectly accomplishing all worldly phenomena. All dharmas constitute a single true Dharma Realm, known as the One True Dharma Realm.

The entire gold vessel composed of the five aggregates is wholly gold. Only by first negating the appearance of the five aggregates can one recognize the appearance of gold. After recognizing the gold, the vessel of the five aggregates is gold, and thus the appearance of the five-aggregate vessel is no longer negated. First negation, then establishment; without negation, there is no establishment. When fixated on the appearance of the five-aggregate vessel, one overlooks the gold. Yet recognizing the gold does not preclude the existence of the five-aggregate appearance. When one mistakes the five aggregates as a real "self," one cannot recognize the true nature. Only by shattering the notions of "self" and "truth" within the five aggregates does one recognize the true nature. Thus, only by first negating and breaking worldly phenomena can the true nature be revealed and realized—hence, negation precedes establishment. Ultimately, however, when one cultivates the most supreme Dharma, all worldly phenomena are the true nature. The Dharma does not negate worldly phenomena; instead, it perfects them.

What, then, is the Dharma? To answer this, one must first discern what is not the Dharma, and thereby understand what the Dharma is. What is not the Dharma? There is not a single dharma that is not the Dharma. Everything you perceive, experience, conceive, or imagine is the Dharma. What is a Buddha? To answer this, simply point out what is not a Buddha, and thereby you will know what a Buddha is. Not a single worldly phenomenon is separate from the Buddha. Sentient beings rely on the Buddha and utilize the Buddha’s Dharma at every moment, yet they never recognize the Buddha, never know the Dharma, and remain unaware of repaying the kindness of the Buddha and the Dharma. How does one repay the Buddha’s kindness? By recognizing the Buddha, understanding the Dharma, and enabling all sentient beings to recognize the Buddha and understand the Dharma—this is repaying the Buddha’s kindness.

Dedication Verse:

By the merit of all Dharma propagation and group practice on our online platform, we dedicate this virtue to all beings throughout the Dharma Realm and to the people of the world. We pray for world peace and the cessation of war; may the flames of conflict cease and weapons forever rest. May all disasters completely subside! May the people of all nations unite in mutual aid, extending kindness to one another; may favorable weather prevail and nations prosper in tranquility. May all sentient beings deeply believe in cause and effect, cherish life without killing; may they widely cultivate virtuous connections and wholesome deeds; may they believe in the Buddha, learn the Dharma, and increase their roots of goodness; may they recognize suffering, cease its origins, aspire to cessation, and cultivate the path; may they close the door to evil destinies and open the path to nirvana! May Buddhism flourish eternally and the true Dharma abide forever; may the burning house of the triple realm be transformed into the lotus land of Ultimate Bliss!