Lectures on the Sutra of the Compilation of Father and Son (197)

King, when bodily consciousness arises, it does not come from anywhere; when it ceases, it does not go anywhere. When that condition 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. King, there is not the slightest phenomenon that can pass from this world to another world. Why is that? Because intrinsic nature is empty.

Knowing thus: the initial consciousness is empty; one’s own karma is empty; bodily consciousness is empty; ceasing is empty; arising is empty; samsara is empty; Nirvana is empty. All are intrinsically empty. There is no doer, nor is there any experiencer. Neither karma nor its retribution can be apprehended. There is only the differentiation and designation of names and appearances.

Commentary: The Buddha said: King, when bodily consciousness arises, it does not come from anywhere; when it ceases, it does not depart anywhere. When karmic conditions arise, they too do not come from anywhere nor go anywhere. When karmic actions arise, they likewise do not come from anywhere nor go anywhere. King, not the slightest phenomenon can pass from this world to another world. Why? Because the intrinsic nature of all phenomena is empty.

We should understand bodily consciousness in this way: understand that the intrinsic nature of bodily consciousness is empty; understand one’s own karmic actions created by the mind-consciousness in this way: understand that the intrinsic nature of karmic actions is empty; understand the initial consciousness in this way: understand that the intrinsic nature of the initial consciousness is empty; understand that if any phenomenon arises, its arising is empty, and if any phenomenon ceases, its cessation is empty. At the same time, we should understand that in the creation and flow of karmic actions, there is no doer and no experiencer. All phenomena are merely the differentiated display of appearances and names.