[639] What is emptiness of characteristics (lakkhaṇasuñña)? There are two characteristics (lakkhaṇa): the characteristic of the fool and the characteristic of the wise. The characteristic of the fool is empty of the characteristic of the wise; the characteristic of the wise is empty of the characteristic of the fool. There are three characteristics: the characteristic of arising (uppādalakkhaṇa), the characteristic of passing away (vayalakkhaṇa), and the characteristic of alteration of that which persists (ṭhitaññathattalakkhaṇa). The characteristic of arising is empty of the characteristic of passing away and of the characteristic of alteration of that which persists; the characteristic of passing away is empty of the characteristic of arising and of the characteristic of alteration of that which persists; the characteristic of alteration of that which persists is empty of the characteristic of arising and of the characteristic of passing away.
The characteristic of arising of form (rūpa) is empty of the characteristic of passing away and of the characteristic of alteration of that which persists; the characteristic of passing away of form is empty of the characteristic of arising and of the characteristic of alteration of that which persists; the characteristic of alteration of that which persists of form is empty of the characteristic of arising and of the characteristic of passing away. Of feeling (vedanā), of perception (saññā), of volitional formations (saṅkhārā), of consciousness (viññāṇa), of the eye … of aging and death (jarāmaraṇa): the characteristic of arising is empty of the characteristic of passing away and of the characteristic of alteration of that which persists; the characteristic of passing away of aging and death is empty of the characteristic of arising and of the characteristic of alteration of that which persists; the characteristic of alteration of that which persists of aging and death is empty of the characteristic of arising and of the characteristic of passing away. This is emptiness of characteristics.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.