Commentary on the Pitaka Sutra (Lecture 155)

Why do all dharmas have no origin nor destination?

Original text: O great king, there is not the slightest dharma that can pass from this world to the next. Why is that? Because their nature is subject to arising and ceasing. O 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 initial consciousness arises, it comes from nowhere; when it ceases, it goes nowhere. Why is that? Because the self-nature is detached. Thus, comprehend that body-consciousness is empty; self-created karmic actions are empty; initial consciousness is empty. If cessation occurs, cessation is empty; if arising occurs, arising is empty. Comprehend the functioning of karma: there is no doer nor receiver, but merely nominal designations and conceptual distinctions.

Explanation: The Buddha said: Great king, no dharma can transfer from this life to the next life. Why is this so? Because the self-nature of all dharmas is constantly arising and ceasing; they are not permanent or abiding. When the five aggregates cease at life's end, all dharmas will cease. Great king, when body-consciousness arises, it has no origin; when it ceases, it has no destination. When karmic actions are created, they have no origin; when karmic actions cease, they have 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 nor destination? Because all dharmas are detached from all natures; the self-nature of all dharmas possesses no characteristics, its intrinsic nature is empty and fundamentally unobtainable. We should thus comprehend body-consciousness, realizing its self-nature is empty; thus comprehend the karmic actions created by one's own consciousness, realizing their self-nature is empty; thus comprehend initial consciousness, realizing its self-nature is empty; thus comprehend that if any dharma arises, its arising is empty, and if any dharma ceases, its cessation is empty; simultaneously, we must comprehend that the creation and continuation of karmic actions have no doer nor receiver—all dharmas are merely provisional appearances and conceptual distinctions expressed through names.