Lectures on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (Pitāputrasamāgamanasūtra) (41)

Original text:大王。此火界性。生无所来。灭无所去。生时本空。灭时亦空。自性空故。但唯言说。之所显示。如是火界。与火界性。皆不可得。唯佛正智。而能了知。

Explanation: Great King, the nature of the fire element has nowhere from which it comes when arising, and nowhere to which it goes when ceasing. Before the fire element is born, there is no place it comes from; when it ceases, there is no place it goes to. The nature of the fire element is empty by its very nature; this little bit of existence produced from emptiness develops and grows bit by bit, and then ceases—and at the time of ceasing it is also empty, with no place to go. The self-nature of the fire element is empty and illusory, not truly existent; it is merely a false appearance manifested through language. Therefore it is said that neither the fire element nor the nature of the fire element can be obtained; only the Buddha's correct wisdom can fully comprehend this.