Discovering the True Nature of Impermanence and Permanence
Excerpt from “The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch”
🌟 Master: “Impermanence is the Buddha nature; permanence is the mind that distinguishes all good and evil phenomena.”
🤔 Disciple: “What you said, Master, greatly contradicts the scriptures.”
🌟 Master: “I transmit the Buddha’s mind-seal. How dare I contradict the Buddha’s scriptures?”
🤔 Disciple: “The scriptures say the Buddha nature is permanent, but you say it is impermanent. Good and evil phenomena, even the bodhi mind, are all impermanent, but you say they are permanent. This is contradictory and adds to my confusion.”
🌟 Master: “The Nirvana Sutra, I once listened to the nun Wujinzang recite it once, and then I lectured on it, with not a single word or meaning contradicting the scriptures. Even now, for you, I have no second explanation.”
🤔 Disciple: “My understanding is shallow and ignorant. I ask the Master to kindly explain in detail.”
🌟 Master: “Do you know? If the Buddha nature were permanent, what need would there be to speak of good and evil phenomena, and even after countless kalpas, not a single person would generate the bodhi mind. Therefore, I say impermanence, which is truly the Buddha’s teaching of the eternal way.”
🌟 Master: “Furthermore, if all phenomena were impermanent, then each thing would have its own nature, enduring birth and death, while the true permanence would not be pervasive. Therefore, I say permanence, which is truly the Buddha’s teaching of true impermanence.”
🌟 Master: “The Buddha compared ordinary people and heretics who cling to false permanence, and the followers of the two vehicles who regard permanence as impermanence, resulting in eight wrong views. Therefore, in the definitive teachings of the Nirvana Sutra, these biases are refuted, revealing true permanence, true bliss, true self, and true purity. You now cling to words and betray their meaning, understanding impermanence as nihilistic destruction and permanence as rigid constancy, thus misinterpreting the Buddha’s profound and final teachings. What benefit is there in reading a thousand times?”
💡 Disciple Huichang suddenly had a great realization and recited a verse, saying, “By holding an impermanent mind, the Buddha speaks of permanence. Those who do not understand expedient means, like picking up broken tiles from a spring pond. Now, without effort, the Buddha nature appears. If not for the Master’s teaching, I would not have attained this.”
🌟 Master: “You have now thoroughly understood; you should be named Zhiche (Thorough Understanding).”
🙏 Zhiche thanked the Master and withdrew.
Analysis and Understanding
Why the Master said: Impermanence is the Buddha nature
If Buddha nature were permanent, why speak of good and evil phenomena, and even after countless kalpas, no one would generate the bodhi mind.
Surface Meaning: If Buddha nature were eternal and unchanging, there would be no existence of good and evil phenomena, nor would anyone generate the bodhi mind over endless time.
Deeper Meaning:
- If Buddha nature were permanent: Here, “permanent” refers to a fixed and unchanging state. If Buddha nature were fixed and unchanging, all phenomena would be encompassed within this fixed state.
- Good and evil phenomena: This refers to all actions and laws of good and evil.
- Even after countless kalpas, no one would generate the bodhi mind: Even after endless time, no one would develop the bodhi mind (the mind seeking enlightenment).
- Explanation: Buddha nature transcends worldly phenomena. If it were fixed and unchanging, all worldly changes, good and evil actions, and the pursuit of enlightenment (bodhi mind) would not arise. In other words, if Buddha nature were fixed and unchanging, there would be no possibility for change, no diversity of life, and no possibility for enlightenment.
Therefore, I say impermanence, which is truly the Buddha’s teaching of the eternal way.
Surface Meaning: Thus, I say Buddha nature is impermanent, which is truly the eternal way in Buddhism.
Deeper Meaning:
- Impermanence: Refers to the continuous change of all things, without a fixed, unchanging essence.
- The eternal way: Refers to a truly eternal principle or law.
- Explanation: The master points out that Buddha nature appears to be impermanent because it includes change and dynamic characteristics. However, this is actually the true eternal way. True permanence is not a static, unchanging state but a dynamic balance that encompasses all changes and possibilities. Therefore, Buddha nature, in its seeming impermanence, contains the true eternal way.
Summary
The core of this passage lies in explaining the dialectical relationship between Buddha nature, impermanence, and permanence. Through this passage, the master emphasizes:
- If Buddha nature were fixed and unchanging (permanent), there would be no occurrence of good and evil phenomena, nor would anyone pursue enlightenment.
- Thus, he says Buddha nature is impermanent, to illustrate that the true eternal way in Buddhism is the presence of true permanence within impermanent change.
This explanation breaks the superficial understanding of “permanence” and “impermanence,” guiding people to realize that the true nature of Buddha nature lies in its dynamic balance and infinite possibilities.
Why the Master said: Permanence is the mind that distinguishes all good and evil phenomena.
If all phenomena are impermanent, then each thing has its own nature and can undergo birth and death, while true permanence cannot pervade all things.
Surface Meaning: If all phenomena are impermanent, then every thing has its own nature and can experience birth and death, while true permanence cannot encompass everything.
Deeper Meaning:
- If all phenomena are impermanent: Here, “all phenomena” refers to all worldly phenomena and things, with “impermanent” indicating that these phenomena and things are in constant flux.
- Each thing has its own nature: If all phenomena and things are impermanent, it implies that each thing has its own unique nature and characteristics.
- Can undergo birth and death: Each thing is capable of experiencing cycles of birth and death, continually going through processes of coming into existence and ceasing to exist.
- True permanence cannot pervade all things: If impermanent things are considered to have fixed natures, then true permanence (the essence of permanence) cannot be present in all things.
Explanation: The master points out that if we consider all things to be impermanent, it leads us to believe that each thing has a fixed nature (own nature) and can undergo cycles of birth and death. This view, however, limits the pervasiveness of true permanence, as it suggests that the essence of true permanence (true constancy) cannot manifest in all things.
Therefore, I say permanence is indeed the true meaning of impermanence according to Buddhism.
Surface Meaning: So, when I speak of “permanence,” I am actually referring to the “true impermanence” as described in Buddhism.
Deeper Meaning:
- Permanence: Here, “permanence” does not mean a fixed and unchanging state but refers to a principle or law of true constancy.
- True impermanence: The true meaning of impermanence, which is permanence within change.
Explanation: The master emphasizes that true permanence (the essence of constancy) is reflected in impermanent changes. In other words, the “true permanence” in Buddhism actually encompasses the dynamic nature of impermanence. This perspective breaks the opposition between permanence and impermanence, highlighting that true constancy is found within the ever-changing dynamics.
Summary
The core of this passage is to explain the Buddhist concepts of “true permanence” and “true impermanence”:
- If all phenomena are impermanent, then each thing has its own nature: If all things are seen as impermanent, it implies that each thing has a fixed nature, leading to a misunderstanding of true permanence.
- Therefore, I say permanence is indeed the true meaning of impermanence: True constancy is reflected in impermanent changes, and “true permanence” in Buddhism actually incorporates the principle of impermanence.
The master uses this passage to clarify the dialectical relationship between impermanence and permanence, indicating that true constancy (true permanence) is found within the context of impermanent change.
