City of 10,000 Buddhas - Flower Adornment Sutra Prologue
Treatise on the Golden Lion, with a traditional commentary starts this text.
Treatise on the Golden Lion
By the Third Hua Yen Patriarch, National Master Hsien Shou [also known as
Fa-tsang) (643–712)]
One, Understanding Conditioned Arising
Two, Distinguishing Form and Emptiness
Three, Summarizing the Three Natures
Four, Revealing the Markless
Five, Explaining the Unproduced
Six, Discussing the Five Teachings
Seven, Mastering the Ten Mysteries
Eight, Embracing the Six Marks,
Nine, Achieving Bodhi
Ten, Entering Nirvana
One, Understanding Conditioned Arising
That is to say, the gold is without a nature of its own. In accordance with the condition of the skillful work of the craftsman, there arise the marks of the lion. Their arising is only due to this condition. Therefore, this is called conditioned arising.
Two, Distinguishing Form and Emptiness
That is to say, the marks of the lion are unreal. There is only true gold. The lion does not exist. The gold substance is not non-existent. Therefore, they are called form and emptiness.
Moreover, emptiness does not have a mark of its own. Through form it is revealed. It does not obstruct illusory existence. Therefore, they are called form and emptiness.