Commentary on the Father and Son Collection Sutra, Part 86

The Liberation of Hinayana Practitioners and the Bodhisattva Resolve of Mahayana Practitioners

When body consciousness arises, it has no origin; it does not come from the east, south, west, or north, nor does it emerge from empty space. Consciousness has no source. After consciousness ceases, it has no destination either. Consciousness is fundamentally illusory, empty. By realizing this, one attains the fruit of emptiness in the Hinayana tradition. When karmic actions arise, they have no origin and no destination; they too are empty and phantom-like. For instance, before the karma of killing arises, where does this karma of killing exist? Where does the act of killing reside? It exists nowhere. Karma has no origin. After I commit this act, the karma ceases to be. Where did it go? Where did the act of killing go? It has no destination; it did not go to the east, south, west, north, above, below, or into empty space. It has no destination.

Similarly, when I pick up this book, the action ceases. Where did it disappear to? It has nowhere to go; it is illusory. Before the intention to pick up the book arises, where does this action exist? It exists nowhere. Before I speak, where are my words? Nowhere. After I finish speaking, the words vanish. Where did they disappear to? They have nowhere to go. If there were a place to store such things, even empty space could not contain them. All actions and creations are illusory, phantom-like, and empty. Upon thorough analysis, nothing is found to be real. If a person is entirely a Hinayana practitioner, concerned only with their own liberation, they will feel that their existence is meaningless and profoundly dull.

To truly desire to live, one must arouse the great resolve of the Mahayana bodhisattva mind, aspiring to attain Buddhahood and liberate suffering beings. This becomes the sole purpose of life; there is no second matter. Since everything in the world is empty and utterly devoid of substance, what state of mind arises from dwelling in the world with this realization? It is like dwelling lightly as if floating in the air. Everything is unrelated to oneself—free from attachments, free from afflictions, yet also devoid of joy. When can one attain such a state of mind? Sentient beings’ minds are filled with a multitude of things—isn’t that heavy? It is overwhelmingly burdensome, carried on the shoulders and held in the heart. They crave everything, yet cannot take anything with them upon death. If they could take it freely, the more the better. Yet, they cannot take anything away, for all is empty. How could anything be taken?