Lecture Notes on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (Pitāputrasamāgamanasūtra) (58)

The self-nature of the eye faculty is pure

Original text: 何以故。由地界清净。眼处得生。是中无有。少法可得。如是乃至。风界清净。眼处得生。是中无有。少法可得。何以故。无主宰故。无造作故。犹如涅槃。自性清净。

Explanation: Why is the eye base pure when the four great elements are pure? Because, owing to the purity of the earth element, the eye faculty can come into existence in dependence upon it; yet although the eye faculty is born, it is still utterly unattainable. Likewise, owing to the purity of the water element, the eye faculty can come into existence in dependence upon it, yet it is still unattainable; owing to the purity of the fire element, the eye faculty can come into existence in dependence upon it, yet it is still unattainable; owing to the purity of the wind element, the eye faculty comes into existence in dependence upon it, yet it is still unattainable. Why is the eye faculty unattainable? Because the arising of the eye faculty has no sovereign controller and involves no fabricating activity; like the unborn and unceasing nirvāṇa mind, its self-nature is pure.