One Conception of Sattva in Zhiyi's Doctrine

Abstract

At the beginning of Chapter Seven of the Vimalakirti-nirdesa translated by Kumarajiva, thirty comparisons were pointed out to explain thoroughly that sattva is non-existence, namely that it is sunya. These comparisons are classified into three kinds: (1) Existing as phenomena but not existing as real bodies, (2) Not existing theoretically and (3) Not existing in reality in general theories.
Seeing such a classification, Zhiyi regarded these comparisons to understand respectively: (1) Earthly truth for sattva (_??_), (2) Essential existence for sattva (_??_) and (3) Existence enhanced from both existences (_??_). Particularly, he discussed comparisons of type (3) and elucidated that they existed in fact even though they are impossible at first glance. This explanation is a jump from the context of the sutra and quite unique from opinions of other scholars.
Though the sutra after this part elucidates the compassion of the bodhisattva, Zhiyi admitting the earthly meaning regards the sattva, the object of the bodhisattva's compassion, as not a complete sunya and thus finds a foundation for compassion.