Commentary:
The root refers to the Buddha-nature and the principle is Emptiness or Non-attachment. A practioner is initially attached to the existence (method or self) before he realizes the principle of Emptiness or Non-attachment. Having perceived the Highest Truth of Emptiness, he is attached to Emptiness. This is incorrigible too.
In order to manifest the Buddha-mind, the practioner has to return to the source which is the Buddha-nature. Having perceived into the Buddha-nature, one manifests the Buddha-mind and hence the wisdom of Emptiness. When the Buddha-mind is manifested, Right View of all things or phenomena is developed. To perceive into the Buddha-nature and to actualize the Buddha-mind, all views must be relinquished and all grasping and rejection must be eliminated. Metaphysical views, attachment and aversion are related to the notion of self and they must, therefore, be eliminated in order to perceive the true nature of things which is Non-self or Emptiness.
One begins with a method and therefore, initially, there is attachment to existence. Having realized Emptiness, the method disappears. The practioner must let go of the method completely. Having let go of the method, if the practioner is attached to the fruit of the method, i.e Emptiness, this is equally bad as it obstructs the path of realizing the Supreme Way (Buddha’s path) .It is just like blowing an object into a pipe to remove an object blocking the pipe inside .The second objects remains inside the pipe thus blocking its passage after the first object is eliminated. The situation is equally bad. The method is utilized to attain Emptiness which is self-enlightenment. When one has just abandoned the attachment to the method and then one is attached to its fruit, i.e Emptiness, this is called reversing the light (i.e the method), i.e reversing the vehicle which is heading towards the destination of liberation.
In absolute liberation, the Buddha-mind is totally empty of self. The Delivered One is neither attached to existence or form (e.g. method, self or master) nor the notion of Emptiness. The path, device and fruit are not to be attached to. In fact, there is nothing to be attached to or grasped upon in order to gain self-enlightenment.
