Selected Lectures on the Sutra of the Compendium of Father and Son (75)

Original Text: Great King, there is not the slightest dharma that can pass from this world to the next world. Why is this so? Because all phenomena are characterized by arising and ceasing. 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? Because intrinsic nature is fundamentally detached. Thus, one should understand: body-consciousness is empty; body-consciousness itself is empty. One’s own karmic actions are empty; one’s own karmic actions themselves are empty. Initial consciousness is empty; initial consciousness itself is empty. If ceasing occurs, ceasing is empty. If arising occurs, arising is empty. Understand the functioning of karma: there is no doer, nor is there any experiencer. There are merely names and appearances, conceptually designated and revealed.

Explanation: The Buddha said: Great King, no dharma whatsoever can transmigrate from this life to the next life. Why is this said? Because the intrinsic nature of all dharmas is perpetually arising and ceasing; they are not permanent or abiding. When the five aggregates cease at the end of life, all dharmas cease. Great King, when body-consciousness arises, it has no origin; when it ceases, it has no destination. When karmic actions are created, the actions have no origin; when the 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 neither origin nor destination? Because all dharmas are detached from all characteristics; the intrinsic nature of all dharmas lacks all attributes, their own nature is empty and fundamentally unobtainable. We should understand body-consciousness in this way: understand the emptiness of body-consciousness’s intrinsic nature; understand one’s own karmic actions created by the conscious mind in this way: understand that the intrinsic nature of karmic actions is empty; understand initial consciousness in this way: understand that the intrinsic nature of initial consciousness is empty; understand in this way: if any dharma arises, its arising is empty; if any dharma ceases, its cessation is empty. Simultaneously, one must understand the creation and transmigration of karmic actions: there is no doer nor any experiencer; all dharmas are merely conceptual designations and nominal appearances.