The Nature of Water and True Emptiness, The Emptiness of Nature and True Water

The "water of true emptiness in the nature" and "true water in the emptiness of nature" mentioned in the Śūraṅgama Sūtra refer to water that has already manifested from the seed of the water element. This includes the subtle particles of water and the water in rivers, lakes, and oceans. The essence of this water is composed of water particles. These particles are formed by the water element, which is an intrinsic seed within the Tathāgatagarbha. Belonging to the Tathāgatagarbha, its nature is also the nature of Tathāgatagarbha. Therefore, all water constituted by the water element is essentially the nature of Tathāgatagarbha. What is the nature of Tathāgatagarbha? Tathāgatagarbha is emptiness in nature—utterly empty throughout, devoid of all dharmas. Both the emptiness that can empty and the emptiness that is emptied are entirely empty; even emptiness itself is empty, perfectly pure, without a single speck of dust. Thus, the nature of any water is true emptiness. Yet, within this emptiness, there exists the true nature of water—neither arising nor ceasing. Therefore, when conditions converge, Tathāgatagarbha can produce water. If there were no such indestructible, unarising nature of water within Tathāgatagarbha, no matter what conditions arose, water could not be produced.

Therefore, in our contemplation, though we empty everything, though we empty all dharmas, when we empty to the ultimate point where there is nothing left to empty, we arrive home. We abide in the home of Tathāgatagarbha and turn the great Dharma wheel. Why, when emptiness has rendered everything nonexistent, can we still turn the Dharma wheel? Because within the emptiness of Tathāgatagarbha, there still exist true earth, true water, true fire, true wind, true perception, and true consciousness—neither arising nor ceasing, truly existing. When conditions converge, they can produce all dharmas. After attaining Buddhahood, the power of vows does not cease, so conditions do not cease. Combined with the indestructible seeds of the Seven Elements within Tathāgatagarbha, the Tathāgata freely turns the great Dharma wheel to liberate all suffering beings.