Birth and death and nirvāṇa are both like illusory flowers in empty space

Birth-and-death and nirvāṇa are alike flowers in the sky; the tathāgatagarbha in its essence has neither birth-and-death nor flowers in the sky. Only the tathāgatagarbha is not a flower in the sky; apart from this, all dharmas are flowers in the sky. No matter how sacred, how unique, how precious, how majestic, how rare a dharma may appear—no matter how, how very much so—including attaining buddhahood, including propagating the Dharma and benefiting sentient beings, including all endeavors—everything is a dreamlike flower in the sky. Only after a bodhisattva realizes this principle can he put his mind to rest; only then can he put his mind to rest.