The All-Wonderful of the Three Jewels

"Also, next, oh good man! Practice the teachings of the Buddha, Dharma and the life of the Sangha (which are the Three Jewels), and abide in the thought of the Eternal. These three things do not contradict one another. There is no form of the non-eternal, nor change. Any person practicing these three (things) as things which differ (among themselves), it fails in the Three Refuges which are pure. This we should know. This means that such person lacks a place to abide in. (If) the precept is not fully learned, no fruit can come about of Sravakas or Pratyekabuddhas. Anyone who abides in the thought of the Eternal in this All-Wonderful has a place to take refuge in. Oh good man! It's like the shadow accompanying a tree. The same is the case with the Tathagata. As there is the Eternal, there is a refuge that can be taken. It is not non-eternal. Once one says that the Tathagata is non-eternal (impermanent), it cannot be a refuge for all the heavenly beings and people of the world."

The Bodhisattva Kasyapa said to the Buddha: "Oh World Honored One! For example, it is like in the case of a tree in the darkness, where there is no shadow."

"Oh Kasyapa! Do not say that there is a tree and that it has no shadow. This is merely because the fleshly eye cannot see it. The same occurs with the Tathagata. His nature is eternal, immutable. One cannot see it without the eye of Wisdom. This is as in the case where no tree-shadow appears in the darkness. Common mortals, after the death of the Buddha, well may say: ‘The Tathagata is non-eternal’. Same is the case. If one says that the Tathagata is other than Dharma and Sangha, there cannot be the Three Refuges. This is as in the case in which, as your parents are different from each other, there is the non-eternal."

Bodhisattva Kasyapa said again to the Buddha: "Oh World Honored One! Henceforth, I will, for the first time, with eternity of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, enlighten parents for ages, down to seventh generation. It's really wonderful! Oh World Honored One! Now, I will learn the All-Wonderful of the Tathagata, Dharma and Sangha. Having been satisfied, I will expound it widely to all others. If they have not faith in the teachings, I will know that they have extensively practiced the non-Eternal. To such people, I will be like frost and hail."

Then the Buddha praised Bodhisattva Kasyapa and said: "Well said, well said! You now indeed protect and uphold the Wonderful Dharma. Such protection of Dharma is no cheating people. By the good deed of not cheating others, one obtains a long life and becomes well able to read our past lives."

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 4 - On Long Life.