seeing infallible interdependence
destroys self-grasping ignorance.
With this, the analysis of wisdom is complete.
- Je Tsongkhapa, The Three Principles of the Path (12)
My dear friends,
In Verse 12 of "The Three Principles of the Path," the simultaneous perception without alternation refers to the direct realization that emptiness and dependent arising are not separate phenomena but are two aspects of the same reality. Emptiness means that phenomena do not have inherent existence; they do not exist independently or from their own side. Dependent arising, on the other hand, means that all phenomena arise in dependence upon causes and conditions.
When one perceives these two aspects simultaneously, without seeing them as contradictory or alternating between one and the other, one understands that because phenomena are empty of inherent existence, they can arise dependently. Conversely, because phenomena arise dependently, they are empty of inherent existence. This unified perception is a profound insight that directly counters and destroys self-grasping ignorance (atmagraha-avidya), which is the mistaken belief in a truly existing, independent self.
Self-grasping ignorance is the root of all suffering and delusion. It mistakenly perceives and clings to the self and phenomena as having inherent, independent existence. This fundamental misconception leads to attachment, aversion, and all other afflictive emotions. By realizing the inseparable nature of emptiness and dependent arising, one sees the true nature of reality, thereby cutting through the ignorance that gives rise to suffering.
This teaching is akin to the Apostle Paul's description of the process of spiritual maturation:
I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child;
when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.
- 1 Corinthians 13:11
This verse highlights the journey from a limited, immature understanding to a mature, enlightened perspective. As a child, one's understanding is limited and often rooted in misconceptions and superficial perceptions. This can be likened to the state of self-grasping ignorance, where one's view of the world is immature and mistaken.
As one matures spiritually, gaining wisdom and insight, one puts away these childish ways of thinking—akin to abandoning the false belief in inherent existence. Just as an adult sees the world with greater clarity and depth, a practitioner who realizes the simultaneous nature of emptiness and dependent arising sees the world as it truly is, free from the distortions of self-grasping ignorance. This maturation process leads to a more profound, compassionate, and wise way of being, similar to how the recognition of emptiness and dependent arising leads to the end of ignorance and the cultivation of wisdom.
Both Tsongkhapa and Paul speak to the transformative journey from ignorance to wisdom, from a limited, deluded view to a clear and accurate understanding of reality. This transformation is at the heart of both the Bodhisattva path and the Christian journey of spiritual growth.