The selflessness of phenomena is clarified in the verses beginning, ‘It can’t come from itself …’ (6.8), until the verse ending with, ‘Analytical reasoning provides swift liberation’ (6.119). The selflessness of the person is dealt with from the verse beginning, ‘They see how each and every affliction and fault originates with the view of identity’ (6.120), until this point. To indicate this and express the classifications of emptiness, it was said:
That beings may be freed, this selflessness was taught
In two ways, of phenomena and personal.
In short, this selflessness was taught as being of two types: phenomenal selflessness and personal selflessness. Why was selflessness presented in these two ways? As it says, that beings may be freed: the Illustrious One presented these two types of selfless in order to liberate beings. The selflessness of the person is taught in order that solitary buddhas and hearers may be liberated, while both are taught in order that bodhisattvas may be liberated through attaining the state of omniscience. Although hearers and solitary buddhas do come to see the mere conditionality of dependent arising, they do not have a complete practice of the selflessness of phenomena, but only the means of abandoning the afflictions experienced in the three realms. It is explained that they do have a comprehensive practice of the selflessness of the person.
And to his followers our Teacher taught the same
By classifying it in various different ways. (6.179)
Apart from this twofold classification of selflessness, the Illustrious One also taught it in many other ways to suit the various inclinations of his students.
Title
Chapter 1: Pramuditā
