Samdhinirmocana-sutra

The Scripture on the Explication of Underlying MeaningI preach that ultimate meaning severs all disputation, but thefunctioning of reason does move within the realm of disputationabout meaning. From this principle, Dharmodgata, you shouldunderstand that ultimate meaning transcends the descriptions ofreasoned meaning."Furthermore, Dharmodgata, you should understand that itis like a man who all his life long was accustomed to tart and bittertastes. He would be incapable of comprehending, evaluating,or appreciating the wonderful taste of honey or rock candy. It islike a man who for ages has placed his concern upon and taken hisdelight in cravings [for this or that]. With his desires burning likefire, he would be unable to comprehend, evaluate, or appreciatethe wonderful inner detachment that severs the images of all senseobjects, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches. It is like a man whofor ages has placed his concern upon and taken his delight in fine,worldly conversations. He would be unable to comprehend, evaluate,or appreciate the joy of the inner, holy silence of tranquility.It is like a man who for ages has placed his concern upon andtaken his delight in all the worldly ideas he had heard, expressed,and understood. He would be unable to comprehend, evaluate, orappreciate the final cessation that forever eradicates all ideas anddestroys personality. 8 Understand, Dharmodgata, it is like a manwho for ages has placed his concern upon and taken his delight inworldly disputation. He would be unable to comprehend, evaluate,or appreciate the fact that in north Kuru [where I havepreached] there are no disputes over the constituents or over noself.In like fashion, Dharmodgata, reason is entirely unable to comprehend,evaluate, or appreciate the descriptive marks of ultimatemeaning, which transcend the functioning of any reasoning."At that time the World-honored One recited these verses toemphasize his meaning:The sphere that is internally realized without descriptionscannot be spoken and severs expressions. Ultimatemeaning, laying to rest all disputes, transcends all the descriptivemarks of reasoning.16