PART ONE
From the Saṃdhinirmocana Sūtra, Ch 4
The Characteristic Natures of all Dharmas
The Three Natures (svabhāva)
- Parikalpa - imagined
- Paratantra - other-dependent
- Pariniṣpanna - completely perfect
PART TWO
From the Thirty Verses on Consciousness Only
Part Four- Verse 20 - 25
由彼彼遍計， 遍計種種物， 此遍計所執， 自性無所有。
Due to that and that imagination (parikalpa), One imagines all kinds of things, These imaginations, which are grasped, (parikalpita-svabhāva) Have no inherent self-nature. ２０
依他起自性， 分別緣所生。 圓成實於彼， 常遠離前性。
Based upon the ‘other-dependent’ self-nature (paratantra-svabhāva), Differentiations arise from conditions, Complete perfection (pariniṣpanna) is that, Eternally free of the former nature (i.e. parikalpita-svabhāva). ２１
故此與依他， 非異非不異， 如無常等性， 非不見此彼。」
Therefore, this [perfected nature] and the other-dependent Are neither different nor nondifferent, Like the nature of impermanence, etc., Neither seeing this nor that. ２２
即依此三性， 立彼三無性， 故佛密意說， 一切法無性。
Then, based upon these three natures (parikalpita, paratantra, and pariniṣpanna), Established upon their three naturelessnesses, The Buddha explained with a hidden meaning All dharmas are natureless (nisvabhāva). ２３
PART THREE
From the Saṃdhinirmocana Sūtra, Ch 5
The Characteristic of Being Without Inherent Nature
The Three Naturelessnesses (nisvabhāva)
- Lakṣaṇa - characteristics lacking inherent nature
- Svabhāva - inherent nature, OR arising, lacking inherent nature
- Paramārtha - ultimate meaning lacking inherent nature
初即相無性， 次無自然性， 後由遠離前， 所執我、法性。
The first [of these] is the naturelessness of characteristics (lakṣaṇa-nisvabhāva) Next is the nature of being without a self-nature, The last is that which transcends the former Natures of grasping at subject (self) and object (dharma). ２４
此諸法勝義， 亦即是真如， 常如其性故， 即唯識實性。」
This is the ultimate meaning (paramārtha) of all dharmas, And is also then True Suchness (bhūtatathatā), Because this is what their nature is always like, Then their true nature is consciousness only. ２５