| Summary: | 碩士 === 法鼓佛教學院 === 佛教學系 === 100 === “Dependent origination” (pratītyasamutpāda) constitutes the core thinking of Buddhism, and it proves to be a profound subject. Furthermore, the “Dharma-realm (original essence) of dependent origination” is even more difficult and profound to understand. Different comprehension, mastering and practice of “dependent origination” lead to different interpretation and application of Buddha Dharma. The “Connotation of Reality” plays a key position in the evolution of Buddhism from “impermanence of dependent origination” to “everlasting Buddha-nature” (Buddha-dhātu).
The central thinking of Early Buddhism is categorized under “Three Dharma Seals”. With the expansion of “Three Dharma Seals” one can derive its internal coherency--- Emptiness (Śūnyatā). Based on the understanding of “Three Dharma Seals” to know that it is the same as “One Truth Seal” (Suchness, or Reality), and every Dharma seal is able to realize “Suchness”.
The “Dharma-dhātu of Suchness” consists of the contents of “Three Dharma Seals”. In Buddhism, “Three seals” equate “One Seal” and “One Seal” equal to “Three Seals”. “Three Seals” contains the essence of deliverance (Enlightenment, mukta), whilst deliverance possesses the “Three Seals”. It is complicated and yet paradoxically, this ideology bears no discrepancies. This essay would use this argument as a foundation to elucidate the connotation of Reality (Suchness). Through the explanation of “the continuity of permanent changes”, “without intrinsic independent nature” and “non-arising (anutpanna) but emptiness (vivikta) and tranquility” to elucidate the unspeakable Reality (Suchness), this connotation forms the contents of Dharma Seals.
From the above, it generally shows that “seeing (actualization) dependent origination” and “seeing (actualization) Suchness” are the same. Regarding the dependence origination of mundane world, “the continuity of unceasing changes”, ultimately all dharma are empty and tranquil; such is the Reality (Suchness) of mundane world. Using “Suchness” to penetrate both existence and emptiness, there is no establishment of position but absolute characteristic, to elucidate “dependence origination”, “emptiness” (śūnyatā), Nirvāṇa, “Suchness”, Middle-path (Madhyama-pratipadā) et cetera are all synonym but just using different words. For example, Yinshun said that “Those who know only one sentence of ‘non-inherence existence of dependence origination’ or even just ‘dependence origination’ is sufficient.”
Finally base on the view of “without intrinsic independent nature of dependence origination”, “Middle-path” (Madhyama-pratipadā) to explain the “negation of all things both exist and non-exist”, away from both exist and non-exist, negate the “four positions” which is beyond the expression of language. Hence the elucidation of “Suchness” is to expanse according to “guarding the wrong views and directions of all sentient beings”. Whether it is the explanation of “exist”, “non-exist”, “provisional”, “empty” and “middle”; one should not be bias or engage in admonish argument. As per the opinions of Yinshun, “The wise should skillfully link and summarize in order to make each way has its own purification, and each method has its own deliverance.” I hereby make a brief conclusion: for the different interpretations of Buddhism, one should have a cautious choice but not suitable to arbitrarily criticize.
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