Commentary on the Sutra of the Father and Son Compendium (111)

Why all dharmas have no origin and no destination

Original text: Great King, there is not even a slight dharma that can go from this world to the next world. Why is that? Because the nature is to arise and cease. Great King, when body-consciousness arises, it does not come from anywhere; when it ceases, it does not go anywhere. When that karma arises, it does not come from anywhere; when it ceases, it does not go anywhere. When initial consciousness arises, it does not come from anywhere; when it ceases, it does not go anywhere. Why is that? Because the self-nature is apart. Thus know: body-consciousness is empty; one's own karma is empty; initial consciousness is empty. If it ceases, cessation is empty; if it arises, arising is empty. Understand the turning of karma: there is no doer, nor is there a receiver, but only names and appearances, discriminately manifested.

Explanation: The Buddha said: Great King, no dharma can flow from this world to the next world. Why is that said? Because the self-nature of all dharmas is constantly arising and ceasing; it is not permanent or always existing. When the five aggregates cease at death, all dharmas will cease. Great King, when body-consciousness arises, it has no origin; when it ceases, it has no destination. When karma is created, it has no origin; when karma ceases, it has no destination. When the initial consciousness of the next life arises, it has no origin; when it ceases, it has no destination. Why do all dharmas have no origin and no destination? Because all dharmas are apart from all natures; the self-nature of all dharmas has no characteristics; the intrinsic nature is empty, utterly unobtainable. Empty and unobtainable dharmas cannot come or go. One should thus know body-consciousness, know that the self-nature of body-consciousness is empty; thus know the karma created by one's own consciousness, know that the self-nature of karma is empty; thus know initial consciousness, know that the self-nature of initial consciousness is empty; thus know that if any dharma arises, its arising is empty; if any dharma ceases, its cessation is also empty; at the same time, know that the creation and turning of karma have no doer and no receiver; all dharmas are merely false appearances and discriminately manifested names.