Lectures on the Sutra of the Father and Son Collection (CI)

There is not the slightest dharma that can be transferred from this world to another world. Why is this so? Because all dharmas are characterized by arising and ceasing. Great King, when body-consciousness arises, it comes from nowhere; when it ceases, it goes nowhere. When karmic actions arise, they come from nowhere; when they cease, they go nowhere. When primal consciousness arises, it comes from nowhere; when it ceases, it goes nowhere. Why is this so? Because their intrinsic nature is transcendent.

Thus comprehending, body-consciousness is understood to be empty. Body-consciousness is empty. One's own karmic actions are understood to be empty. One's own karmic actions are empty. Primal consciousness is understood to be empty. Primal consciousness is empty. If there is cessation, cessation is empty. If there is arising, arising is empty. Comprehending the revolving of karma, there is no doer, nor is there any experiencer. There is only the discriminative manifestation of names and appearances.

Explanation: Great King, there is absolutely nothing that can be taken from this world to another world. Why is this so? Because all dharmas are characterized by arising and ceasing. Great King, when body-consciousness arises, it has no source; when it ceases, it has no destination. The karmic actions created by consciousness arise with no source and cease with no destination. When the primal consciousness within the physical body first arises, it has no source; when it ceases, it has no destination. Why do these dharmas have no coming or going? Because the intrinsic nature of these dharmas transcends all dharmas; they lack the reality of any dharmas.

In this way, one comprehends body-consciousness and realizes the emptiness of body-consciousness; comprehends one's own created karmic actions and realizes the emptiness of karmic actions; comprehends primal consciousness and realizes the emptiness of primal consciousness. If these dharmas cease, their cessation is also empty; if these dharmas arise, their arising is also empty. Comprehending the revolving of karmic force, there is no creator of actions, nor is there any receiver of retribution; it is merely the discriminative manifestation of various names and appearances.

There is not the slightest dharma that can be transferred from this world to another world; nothing can be taken along, because the intrinsic nature of all dharmas is characterized by arising and ceasing—it is empty and illusory. The physical body is empty, mind is empty, karma is empty—everything is empty, all dharmas are completely empty, intrinsic nature is empty. When primal consciousness arises, there is no source; when it ceases, there is no destination. The intrinsic nature of these dharmas transcends all dharmas; they do not truly exist in themselves, being empty and illusory. When karma ceases, it is also empty; when karma arises, it is also empty. There is no creator of karma, nor is there any experiencer of karmic results—there is neither an experiencer. It is merely the discriminative manifestation of names and appearances.