Commentary on the Sutra of the Compendium of Fathers and Sons (Part 159)

Why do all dharmas have no origin and no destination?

The original text: Great King, there is not even a small dharma that can go from this world to the next world. Why is that? Because the nature is arising and ceasing. 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 the initial consciousness arises, it does not come from anywhere; when it ceases, it does not go anywhere. Why? Because self-nature is apart. Thus know: body consciousness, body consciousness is empty; one's own karma, one's own karma is empty; initial consciousness, initial consciousness is empty; if ceasing, ceasing is empty; if arising, arising is empty. Know the turning of karma: there is no doer, nor is there an experiencer; only names and appearances, discriminative manifestation.

Explanation: The Buddha said: Great King, there is not a single dharma that can transfer from this life to the next life. Why is that said? Because the self-nature of all dharmas is constantly arising and ceasing; it is not permanent or abiding. When the five aggregates cease at the time of death, 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, the karmic actions have no origin; when the 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 and no destination? Because all dharmas are apart from all natures; the self-nature of all dharmas has no characteristics; the self-nature is empty, ungraspable. Thus know body consciousness, know that the self-nature of body consciousness is empty; thus know the karmic actions created by one's own consciousness mind, know that the self-nature of karmic actions is empty; thus know the 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 ceasing is empty; at the same time, know the creation and turning of karma: there is no doer nor experiencer; all dharmas are merely false appearances and names, discriminative displays.