Samdhinirmocana-sutra

The Scripture on the Explication of Underlying Meaning689amight be objected, is it not true that there are no expressions withoutsome [corresponding] reality? What, then, is the reality here?I would reply that it is that reality apart from language and realizedin the perfect awakening of the saints through their holy wisdomand insight apart from all names and words. It is becausethey desire to lead others to realize perfect awakening that theyprovisionally establish [such expressions] as 'the conditioned' asverbal descriptions. 4"Good son, the term 'unconditioned' is also a word provisionallyinvented by the First Teacher. Now, if the First Teacher provisionallyinvented this word, then it is a verbal expressionapprehended by imagination. 5 And, if it is a verbal expression apprehendedby imagination, then, in the final analysis, such animagined description does not validate a real thing. Therefore, theunconditioned does not exist. Good son, the term 'conditioned' isalso invented from language [and it validates nothing real]."Besides 'the unconditioned' and 'the conditioned,' any otherexpression that exists in language is the same. But [some mayobject], is it not true that there are no expressions without some[corresponding] reality? What then is that reality here? I wouldreply that it is that reality apart from language and realized inthe perfect awakening of the saints through their wisdom and insightapart from all names and words. It is because they desire tolead others to realize perfect awakening that they establish [suchexpressions] as 'the unconditioned' as verbal descriptions."Then the Bodhisattva Vidhivatpariprcchaka again questionedthe Bodhisattva Gambhlrarthasamdhinirmocana and said: "Sonof the Victor, why is it that those saints, being freed from languagethrough holy wisdom and insight, realizing perfect awakening inthat ineffable nature of reality, and desiring to lead others to realizeperfect awakening, provisionally establish verbal descriptions,such as 'conditioned' and 'unconditioned'?"The Bodhisattva Gambhlrarthasamdhinirmocana addressedthe Bodhisattva Vidhivatpariprcchaka and said: "Good son, onecan liken [those saints] to skillful magicians or apprentices, who,12