Lectures on the Pitāputrasamāgama Sūtra (88)

Is killing an actual reality?

When the realization of no-self (anātman) is attained, not only is the person empty, but karmic actions are also empty. For example, when I kill a person, is there an "I" that kills? What is called "I"? My mind-consciousness, the mind-consciousness intending to kill, is empty and illusory; my physical body is empty and illusory—so is there such a person as "I"? There is no such person as "I". Is the knife I hold real? It is not real. Then does the karmic action of my killing exist? It is empty. The person is empty, the object is empty, and the behavioral action is empty—the karmic act of me taking a knife to kill is illusory. Is there anyone performing the act of killing? No. Regarding the person killed by me, is there such a person? No, his physical body is equally empty and false, his mind-consciousness is equally empty and illusory, his sensations are empty and illusory, and his suffering is empty and illusory. So is there an "I," a "he," or a karmic action? None exist. By persistently practicing contemplation in this way, it is difficult not to attain fruition; one may even realize the mind and attain enlightenment, progressing to the fruition of a First Ground (Prathamabhūmi) Bodhisattva.