[636] What is the emptiness of formations (saṅkhārasuññaṃ)? There are three formations (saṅkhārā): the formation of merit (puññābhisaṅkhāra), the formation of demerit (apuññābhisaṅkhāra), and the formation of the imperturbable (āneñjābhisaṅkhāra). The formation of merit is empty of the formation of demerit and of the formation of the imperturbable; the formation of demerit is empty of the formation of merit and of the formation of the imperturbable; the formation of the imperturbable is empty of the formation of merit and of the formation of demerit. These are the three formations.
There are another three formations: the bodily formation (kāyasaṅkhāra), the verbal formation (vacīsaṅkhāra), and the mental formation (cittasaṅkhāra). The bodily formation is empty of the verbal formation and of the mental formation; the verbal formation is empty of the bodily formation and of the mental formation; the mental formation is empty of the bodily formation and of the verbal formation. These are the three formations.
There are another three formations: past formations, future formations, and present formations. Past formations are empty of future and present formations; future formations are empty of past and present formations; present formations are empty of past and future formations. These are the three formations. This is the emptiness of formations.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.