The Lakṣaṇa of Dharma Must Also Be Transcended

The Diamond Sutra, Chapter 8 Original Text: All Buddhas and the Dharma of Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (supreme perfect enlightenment) of all Buddhas arise from this sutra. That which is called the Buddha Dharma is not the Buddha Dharma.

Literal Translation: All Buddhas and all methods for attaining Buddhahood arise from the vajra mind. Therefore, the Dharma that sentient beings call the Buddha Dharma is also not the Buddha Dharma (it is designated as the Buddha Dharma).

First, the Buddhas are Buddhas attained later. The five aggregates body with the thirty-two marks is manifested and produced by their own immaculate consciousness (amalavijñāna). The wisdom of equality, the wisdom of marvelous observation, and the wisdom of accomplishing what is to be done are all manifested by their own immaculate consciousness. The immaculate consciousness, moment by moment, uses the seven great seeds to produce and sustain the five aggregates and seven consciousnesses of the Buddha, enabling the Buddhas to exist presently.

The method for attaining Buddhahood is not originally existent but arises later. It is the experiential Dharma accumulated and summarized by the Buddhas through practicing over three great immeasurable kalpas. It is a conditioned Dharma, not an unconditioned Dharma. It is also produced and sustained by the Buddha's immaculate consciousness.

Therefore, the Dharma that sentient beings call the Buddha Dharma is not originally existent. It is not the true, unborn and undying Dharma. It is merely later designated as the Buddha Dharma, provisionally named the Buddha Dharma. Although it is empty of inherent nature, it is also not non-Buddha Dharma, because these Dharmas ultimately have the function of leading to Buddhahood; they have existence within the phenomenal world; they are not Dharmas that are empty and unseen.

After the Dharma characteristics of all Buddhas and the Dharma of the Buddha Dharma (the method for attaining Buddhahood) are refuted, apart from the vajra mind and the true suchness Buddha-nature (tathagatagarbha), what Dharma is truly existent, immutable, and irrefutable? There is none. If even the most supreme Dharma characteristics can be refuted, then there are no Dharma characteristics in the world that cannot be refuted. Then the world is truly empty, desolate, and still, not worthy of sentient beings' pursuit or grasping. Everyone should let their minds rest, cease, and refrain from vainly creating karma, because no matter what karma is created, it is all empty and illusory, of no real use.