Lecture Notes on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (41)

Neither the Fire Element Nor the Nature of the Fire Element Can Be Attained

Original text:大王。此火界性。生无所来。灭无所去。生时本空。灭时亦空。自性空故。但唯言说。之所显示。如是火界。与火界性。皆不可得。唯佛正智。而能了知。

Explanation: Great King, the nature of the fire element has nowhere from which it comes in arising, and nowhere to which it goes in ceasing. Before the fire element is born, there is no place it comes from; when it ceases, there is no place it goes. The nature of the fire element is empty from the very beginning. From within emptiness, this tiny bit of existence is produced; this bit of existence then gradually develops and grows, and then ceases—and when it ceases, it too is empty, with no place to go. The self-nature of the fire element is empty and illusory, not truly existent; it is merely a false appearance manifested through language. Therefore it is said that neither the fire element nor the nature of the fire element can be attained; only the Buddha's correct wisdom can fully comprehend this.