The True Liberated One Does Not Empty Emptiness

Original text from the Mahaparinirvana Sutra: "Liberation is called the non-emptiness of emptiness. The emptiness of emptiness is called nothingness. Nothingness is the liberation conceived by the non-Buddhist Nirgranthas and others. Yet these Nirgranthas actually have no liberation, therefore it is called the emptiness of emptiness. True liberation is not like this. Therefore, it is called the non-emptiness of emptiness. That which is the non-emptiness of emptiness is true liberation. True liberation is precisely the Tathagata. Furthermore, liberation is called non-emptiness."

Explanation: "One who is liberated is called the non-emptiness of emptiness. One who holds the emptiness of emptiness is called nothingness. Nothingness is the liberation clung to by the non-Buddhist Nirgranthas. However, the Nirgranthas actually have no liberation, therefore it is called the emptiness of emptiness. A truly liberated person is not like this, therefore it is called the non-emptiness of emptiness. That which is the non-emptiness of emptiness is the truly liberated one. The truly liberated one is precisely the Tathagata. Additionally, the liberated one is called non-emptiness."

In the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, this "non-emptiness of emptiness" refers to the true mind, the Tathagatagarbha. One who fully and ultimately realizes the Tathagatagarbha is the supreme liberated one. Why is this so? One who ultimately and thoroughly realizes the Tathagatagarbha knows that only the Tathagatagarbha is the true dharmic reality. Apart from this, all are unreal, false dharmas born from and manifested by the Tathagatagarbha. Thus, the view of self and attachment to self, the view of dharmas and attachment to dharmas, are all completely eradicated and extinguished. Liberation is attained from the bondage of all worldly dharmas. This is ultimate and thorough liberation, far superior to the Hinayana's incomplete, temporary liberation. It surpasses emptiness, surpasses the emptiness of emptiness, and surpasses non-Buddhist paths.

One who realizes the emptiness of emptiness realizes the nothingness of all dharmas. If one believes in nothingness, even denying the Tathagatagarbha and the dharmadhatu reality, this is the liberation spoken of by non-Buddhists. In reality, this is non-liberation. A truly liberated person does not hold such views. Therefore, a truly liberated person is one who realizes the non-emptiness of emptiness. Such a person is the Tathagata. The Tathagata realizes the true reality of all dharmas and is called non-emptiness.