Glossary of Terms from the Śūraṅgama Sūtra, Volume Four

Original text of the Śūraṅgama Sūtra: 性觉真空，性空真觉；性见觉明，觉精明见；性识明知，觉明真识；性真圆融。Intrinsic awakening is true emptiness, and intrinsic emptiness is true awakening: the awakening-nature is true emptiness (śūnyatā), and the nature of space is true awakening-nature. The word "awakening" here refers to the awakening of the tathāgatagarbha. The awakening-nature of the tathāgatagarbha can give birth to space; space is the boundary-aspect of form—where there is no form-appearance, that is space. The intrinsic nature and essence of space is precisely the tathāgatagarbha-nature.

The relationship among space, form-appearance, and the empty-natured mind, the tathāgatagarbha, needs to be understood clearly. Once these two kinds of emptiness can be distinguished, reading the sūtras becomes much easier to comprehend.

"Intrinsic seeing is awakened clarity; awakened essence is clear seeing"—the awakening-nature is the clarity of awakening, and the awakening-nature is the clear nature of seeing. The nature of seeing is born from the clear awakening-nature of the tathāgatagarbha. Seeing brightness, seeing darkness, and seeing space—all are the awakening-nature, the tathāgatagarbha-nature.

"Intrinsic consciousness is luminous knowing; awakened clarity is true consciousness"—the consciousness-nature of the six consciousnesses is the clear knowing-nature of the tathāgatagarbha, and the luminous awakened nature of the tathāgatagarbha is the true consciousness-nature of the six consciousnesses. The consciousness-nature is born from the clear awakening-nature of the tathāgatagarbha, and therefore it is the tathāgatagarbha-nature.

"Intrinsic truth is perfectly harmonious"—to summarize: the natures of earth, water, fire, wind, space, seeing, and consciousness—all seven great elements—possess the nature of the true awakening of the tathāgatagarbha. They can perfectly interpenetrate without obstruction, and together they constitute all dharmas of the world of the five aggregates (pañcaskandha), enabling all dharmas to manifest according to conditions and in accordance with the mind's capacity. In essence, they are all the one true dharma realm of the tathāgatagarbha.