excerpts from Chapter: Bodhisattva Samantabhadra
(Sutra of Complete Enlightenment)
Virtuous man, all illusory projections of sentient beings arise
from the wondrous mind of the Tathagatas Complete Enlightenment,
just like flowers in the sky which come into existence from out of
the sky. When the illusory flower vanishes, the nature of the sky
is not marred. Likewise, the illusory mind of sentient beings
relies on illusory [cultivation] for its extinction. When all
illusions are extinguished, the enlightened mind remains unmoved.
Speaking of enlightenment in contrast to illusion is itself an
illusion. To say that enlightenment exists is to not have left
illusion yet. [However], to say that enlightenment does not exist
is also no different. Therefore, the extinction of illusion is
called the unmoving [mind of enlightenment].
Virtuous man, all bodhisattvas and sentient beings in the Dharma
Ending Age should separate [themselves] from all illusory
projections and deluded realms. [However], when one clings firmly
to the mind that separates [from all illusory projections and
deluded realms], this mind [should also be taken as] an illusion,
and one should separate oneself from it. Because this separation is
an illusion, it should also be separated. One should then be free
from even this separating from the illusion of separation! When
there remains nothing to be seperated from, all illusions are
eliminated. It is like rubbing two pieces of wood together to
obtain fire. When the fire ignites and the wood completely burns,
the ashes fly away and the smoke vanishes. Using illusion to remedy
illusion is just like this. Yet even though illusions are
exhausted, one does not enter annihilation.
