The Apprehension of Meaning

“We say 'meaning'. 'Meaning' means 'be satisfied'. This is never, to the end, cheat seeking to demonstrate pureness of deportment and, with arrogance, show up as being of a high position, and so greedily to seek profit. Also, one should not show clinging to what the Tathagata says for reasons of expediency. This is to achieve the meaning. If a person abides in this, then we may say that this person abides in 'Paramartha-Satya' [Ultimate Reality]. This is why we say that we base ourselves on the meaning of the sutras and not on the non-apprehension of the meaning.

Non-apprehension of the meaning relates to what is established in the sutras saying that everything can be extinguished, everything is non-eternal, everything is suffering, everything is empty, and all is devoid of self. This is non-apprehension of meaning. How so? Because such a person is unable to grasp the intended meaning, but only the appearance of [literal] meaning. This leads all beings to fall into Avichi hell. Why? Because of attachment, as a result of that a person does not grasp the meaning. A person [might] say that everything is headed for extinction, implying that the entrance of the Tathagata into Nirvana constitutes extinction. A person [might] say that everything is non-eternal, meaning that even Nirvana is non-eternal, and so is with suffering, void, and non-self too. That's why we say that this is non-apprehension of the essence of the sutras. One cannot follow such.”

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 8 - On the Four Dependables.

Receiving and Embracing Sutras

“We say that we should base ourselves on receiving and embracing the sutras [those which plumb the depths of the true spirit of the Buddha-Dharma], and not on the non-receiving and embracing the sutras. The non-receiving and embracing the sutras are the vehicle of Sravaka (Listener). Even listening to the deep and hidden storehouse of Buddha-Tathagata, doubts arise in their minds regarding all things and the person does not realize that this storehouse arises from the sea of Great Wisdom, as in the case of a child who cannot distinguish one thing from another. This is the not-apprehension of the meaning. The attainment of the meaning is nothing more than the True Wisdom of the Bodhisattva. It flows forth from the unobstruction of the Great Wisdom of his mind, as with an adult, for whom there is nothing that is not known. This is the attainment of the meaning.”

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 8 - On the Four Dependables.

Wisdom and Consciousness

“We say that we rely on Wisdom and not on consciousness. Wisdom is an allusion to the Tathagata. If any Sravaka does not well understand the virtues of the Tathagata, such a consciousness is not to be followed. If he knows that the Tathagata is the Dharma-Body, such true Wisdom can indeed be followed. If a person sees the expedient body of the Tathagata and says that it belongs to the five skandhas, to the eighteen realms [i.e., the six sense organs, the six sense-fields and the six consciousnesses], to the twelve balls [the six sense organs and the six sense-fields], and that it arises from feeding, such things should not be followed. This means that even consciousness is not to be followed. If a sutra says such a thing, it cannot be followed.”

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 8 - On the Four Dependables.

The Meaning and the Words

“We say that we base ourselves on the meaning, not in the words. The meaning connotes fully Enlightened beings. Full Enlightenment means non-weak. Non-weak means (full) satisfaction. Satisfaction means that the Tathagata is Eternal and Unchanging. That the Tathagata is Eternal and Unchanging means that the Dharma is eternal. That the Dharma is eternal means that the Sangha is eternal. This is basing oneself on the meaning. Do not base yourself on the words. What are the words in which we should not base ourselves on? These are the discursive and decorative words. They [those who adhere to the letters, rather than the spirit] seek, also, greedily and insatiably all the innumerable sutras of the Buddha. Wickedly, skillfully and disingenuously, they cheat and, displaying a semblance of sympathy and benevolence, they seek profits. Garbed in white, they climb ranks. They also loudly proclaim: ‘The Buddha allows to the Bhiksus receive all [kinds of] services (aid in tasks) and impure things, trading gold, silver, rare gems, to store rice, to trade cattle, sheep, horses and elephants; and so seek profits. And also there may arise a famine, and out of pity of children, the Bhiksus may look for profits, store things and keep them in a house, prepare food with their own hands and for your own support, instead of receiving [the alms of others]’. All such words are not to be followed.”

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 8 - On the Four Dependables.

The Dharma and the Person

The Buddha said: "Being based on Dharma means nothing more than basing oneself on the Mahaparinirvana of the Tathagata. All Buddhist teachings are nothing more than 'Dharmata' [essence of Dharma, essence of Reality]. This 'Dharmata' is the Tathagata. Hence, the Tathagata is Eternal and Unchanging. Any person who says that the Tathagata is non-Eternal does not know the 'Dharmata'. Such a person is not someone to base oneself upon. All the four (kinds) of persons mentioned above appear in the world, protect, act and become a refuge [for all beings]. Why? Because they thoroughly understand the deepest points of what the Tathagata says and know that the Tathagata is Eternal and Unchanging. It is not good to say that the Tathagata is non-Eternal and that He changes.

The four (kinds) of people, when they (appear) as such, are the Tathagata. Why? Because such kinds (of people) well understand and speak about the undisclosed words of the Tathagata. Someone who well understands what is deeply hidden and knows that the Tathagata is Eternal and Unchanging, will never, for profit, says that the Tathagata is non-Eternal. Such a person is someone to base oneself upon - why not on those four (kinds) of people?”

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 8 - On the Four Dependables.