Translated by the Dharma Master Shi Hu, a Tripitaka Master from the Western Regions, Court Gentleman for Ceremonial Service, Acting Minister of
The Buddha told Kasyapa: "Just as the light of a lamp can dispel all darkness, where does that darkness go? It does not go to the east, nor to the south, nor to the west, nor to the north. It neither goes away nor comes from anywhere.
Kasyapa, furthermore, it is not that the lamp's light can truly dispel darkness. And if there were no darkness, how could the lamp's light be revealed? Kasyapa, lamp-light and darkness inherently lack independent existence; both are empty, with nothing to be gained and nothing to be discarded. Kasyapa, it is just the same with wisdom. When wisdom arises, ignorance is abandoned. Yet where does that ignorance go? It does not go east, south, west, or north. Since it does not go anywhere, it does not come from anywhere either.