十二門論 · 名相Glossary

*Twelve Gate Treatise*T30n1568 as one fascicle of twelve gates with an opening Table of Gates and preface

NāgārjunaTreatise author

KumārajīvaChinese translator

Seng RuiAuthor of the Table of Gates and preface

centered balanceThe preface’s word for the treatise’s return to the real mark, never worldly compromise

gateA way of entering emptiness, not another entity

Mahāyāna / Great VehicleMay be paired on first use; “great” follows the seven meanings in the treatise

the real markWhat the preface says the treatise returns to; not a separate entity

emptiness / emptyNever nothingness

ultimately emptyNot established as an ultimate entity

intrinsic natureA fixed nature established apart from conditions

other-naturePaired with intrinsic nature and existence because of another

without intrinsic natureNever collapsed into “nonexistent”

causes and conditionsDo not replace every occurrence with dependent origination

inner and outer causes and conditionsThe twelve links internally; vessels, sprouts, and their conditions externally

the four conditionsCausal, immediately preceding, object, and dominant condition

an existing effect / a nonexisting effectGate two’s alternatives for an effect already present or absent in its cause

markIncludes the three marks and other defining marks, not mere appearance

having marks / lacking marksThe two alternatives in gate five; the doctrinal noun 無相 may be “the signless” elsewhere

identity / differenceThe paired alternatives in gate six

existence / nonexistenceGate seven; verbs follow local syntax

natureGate eight asks whether changing dharmas can possess fixed nature

cause / effectGate nine and ordinary causal contexts

action / agentMaking / maker or doing / doer in concrete syntax

the three timesWhat has passed, has not passed, and is passing; or past, future, present as context requires

arisen / unarisen / the time of arisingGate twelve’s three alternatives; noun forms adjust to syntax

non-arisingIntrinsic arising cannot be found; dependent function is not erased

conditioned / unconditionedExamined relationally; the unconditioned is not made a self-existing thing

self / what belongs to selfProvisionally spoken through aggregates, bases, and elements, not an enduring subject

nirvāṇaGate one examines the relational designation of non-arising

the twelve links of dependent originationShort form: the twelve links

one mind / many mindsGate one’s simultaneous and sequential alternatives for the twelve links

conjunction / coming togetherThe gathering of conditions is not reified as another dharma

provisional designationDependently established speech, not a fixed body