The Instructions on the Non-Production of All Phenomena Sutra says:

                  Whosoever understands these teachings of

                  nothingness will never become attached to

                  any phenomenon.

When we understand that all things are empty of reality, this “wisdom awareness” makes clear that the universally empty condition means the end of any “person” and any worldly “thing” to which attachment could actually be formed.

The teachings emphasize that the emptiness is a consequence of the non-formation of the supposed things and persons, from the outset; they are not real, and do not really exist, because they were never originated.

The 700 Stanza Perfection of Wisdom says:

                  The realization that all phenomena are unborn—

                  that is the perfection of wisdom awareness.

Also, the Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment says:

                  That which is called wisdom awareness has been

                  thoroughly explained as coming from the realization

                  of the emptiness of inherent existence, which is

                  the realization that aggregates, constituent

                  elements, and sources are without birth.

What is unborn does not “arise”, or come into existence. As Gampopa says, “Does not arise means that it is not produced.” What is not produced does not exist in any real or actual sense. Supposed phenomenon are mere appearances, to those who presume they themselves were born.

The Unwavering Dharmadhatu Sutra says:

                  All phenomena are inherently unborn,

                  Non-abiding by nature,

                  Free from all limitations of activities and action,

                  And beyond the object of conceptual and non-conceptual

                  thought.

Gampopa writes:

As has been explained above, since outer objects, such as forms and so forth, have no existence, the mind of inner grasping also has no existence. Also, the Fully Holding the Dharma Sutra says:

                  Having fully understood that the mind is without existence

                  Do not hold on to it as having some core,

                  Because it is empty by nature.

                  Phenomena empty by nature

                  Do not exist.

Since the mind itself does not exist, so the self does not exist. Yet since phenomena, which are called ‘selves’ or ‘mind,’ have from the very beginning had no inherent existence, they are beyond the extremes of existence and nonexistence.

Each of us has been conditioned to believe that we are a real, actual person, a separate “self”. As a self, we each have a “mind” which is the organizer of our activities; as such, it is the mind which enforces the idea that there is an existent self. But the self and mind are (“both”) phenomena which are empty of ultimate existence.

We can neither say that phenomena actually exist, nor (given a condition in which existence has been absent from the beginning) is there any reason to ask whether any thing non-existent can “exist”.

Recognizing, then, that in utter emptiness no characteristics or qualities – nothing conceptual—pertains, this understanding leaves no room for dualistic confustion.

The Essence of the Earth Sutra says:

                  All phenomena are of one taste, since emptiness

                  is without characteristics.

Engaging in the Conduct of Bodhisattvas says:

                  When existence and nonexistence do not abide in

                  front of the mind, then there is no alternative object.

(In other words, what one come to “see” is that ultimately only emptiness is what could be “seen”.)

And it says:

                  Seeing nothing whatsoever is seeing suchness.

Put another way, the person is empty of reality. For that matter, emptiness – as any thing that could be conceived—is also empty of reality. Emptiness “viewing” emptiness—who could possibly be aware of what?

If one wonders how emptiness can be seen, it is said in the Accomplishment of

Dharmadhatu Sutra:

                  When emptiness is seen, there is no seeing.

Yet, when one understands emptiness—and that the one who understands is empty—this ultimate condition is the one unchanging, unborn reality: the “perfection” of wisdom awareness of the “teachings of nothingness”.

The Ornament of Clear Realization says:

                  Because it is known as being the same in all times,

                  It is acknowledged as the perfection of wisdom awareness.