大智度論=The Treatise on the Great Perfection of Wisdom; 世俗諦與勝義諦=the mundane truth (saṁvṛiti-satya) and the ultimate truth (paramartha-satya); 有漏與無漏=pure with defilements and impure without defilements; 漸與頓現觀=gradual contemplation and sudden contemplation; 有為法與無為法=conditioned dharma and unconditioned dharma; 涅槃=nirvana
This study explores the interpretation of the Four Noble Truths (catvāri āryasatyāni) of the Treatise on the Great Perfection of Wisdom. First, the development process of the Four Noble Truths, from those in Āgama, those in the Mahayana Prajna system and then to those in the Treatise on the Great Perfection of Wisdom, is systematically collated, summarized, and analyzed. Secondly, the meanings of the Four Noble Truths are elucidated. In primitive Buddhism, the truth of suffering (duhkha-satya) and the truth of the cause of suffering (samudaya-satya) are impure with defilements (saṁkleśa), while the truth of the cessation of suffering (nirodha-satya) and the truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering (mārga-satya) are pure without defilements. In Abhidharma Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths are elucidated as the mundane truth (saṁvṛiti-satya) and the ultimate truth (paramartha-satya), impure with defilements and pure without defilements, and gradual contemplation and sudden contemplation (abhisamaya). In the early Mahayana Buddhism, from the perspective of emptiness, the four Noble Truths are elucidated. All dharma is empty in Prajna Sutra (Prajñāpāramitā sutra) and the Four Noble Truths are non-duality in Vimalakirti's Sutra. The Treatise on the Great Perfection of Wisdom inherits early Buddhism. Hence, in Mahayana Buddhism, it applies the mundane truth (saṁvṛiti-satya) and the ultimate truth (paramartha-satya) to expound the truth of suffering the truth, of the cause of suffering, the truth of the cessation of suffering, and the truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering. The truth of suffering and the truth of the cause of suffering are the conditioned dharma (saṃskṛta-dharma) which is impure with defilements (saṁkleśa); the truth of the cessation of suffering is the unconditioned dharma that is pure without defilements; the truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering is the conditioned dharma that is pure without defilements. The truth of the cessation of suffering expounds the truth of all dharma, which is beyond the mind, the action, speeches or words; it is neither arising nor ceasing; the cessation is like Nirvana. The truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering is conditioned dharma that is pure without defilements, the realization of the path towards nirvana, and dependent arising. In addition, it has empty nature, so people shouldn’t attach to it while practice it.
