D William

The excerpt you've shared from the Sutra of Immeasurable Meanings reflects the Buddhist concept of emptiness (śūnyatā). It conveys the idea that all things are empty of inherent existence, fixed identity, or independent nature. This does not mean things do not exist at all, but rather that they exist in a dependent and interconnected way. The descriptions like 'neither existing nor non-existing', 'neither birth nor death', and so forth, emphasize the absence of fixed or independent characteristics in anything, including the Buddha's body. All phenomena, including us, are subject to the same principle. It's a fundamental part of Buddhist philosophy, and the understanding of it is thought to lead to liberation from suffering and ultimately enlightenment.