Lectures on the Pitāputra Samāgama Sūtra (120)

King, there is not even a small dharma that can go from this world to the other world. Why is that? Because the nature is subject to birth and destruction. King, when body consciousness arises, it does not come from anywhere; when it ceases, it does not go anywhere. When karmic actions arise, they do not come from anywhere; when they cease, they do not go anywhere. When the initial consciousness arises, it does not come from anywhere; when it ceases, it does not go anywhere. Why? Because the inherent nature is free. Thus, understand: body consciousness is empty; one's own karmic actions are empty; the initial consciousness is empty. If there is cessation, cessation is empty; if there is birth, birth is empty. Understand the turning of karma: there is no doer, nor is there a receiver; it is only names and appearances, differentiated and manifested.

Explanation: The Buddha said: King, there is not a single dharma that can flow from this life to the next life. Why is that said? Because the inherent nature of all dharmas is constantly arising and ceasing; they are not permanent or abiding. At the time of death, when the five aggregates cease, all dharmas will cease. King, when body consciousness is born, there is no place it comes from; when it ceases, there is no place it goes to. When karmic actions are created, karmic actions have no place they come from; when karmic actions cease, there is no place they go to. When the initial consciousness of the next life is born, there is no place it comes from; when it ceases, there is no place it goes to.

Why do all dharmas have no place they come from and no place they go to? Because all dharmas are free from all natures; the inherent nature of all dharmas has no characteristics; the self-nature is empty, utterly unobtainable. We should understand body consciousness like this, understanding that the inherent nature of body consciousness is empty; like this, understand the karmic actions created by one's own consciousness, understanding that the inherent nature of karmic actions is empty; like this, understand the initial consciousness, understanding that the inherent nature of the initial consciousness is empty; like this, understand that if any dharma is born, its birth is empty; if any dharma ceases, its cessation is empty; at the same time, also understand the creation and turning of karmic actions: there is no doer, nor is there a receiver; all dharmas are merely false appearances and differentiations and manifestations in name.