Lecture Notes on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (58)

The eye faculty is intrinsically pure

Original text: 何以故。由地界清净。眼处得生。是中无有。少法可得。如是乃至。风界清净。眼处得生。是中无有。少法可得。何以故。无主宰故。无造作故。犹如涅槃。自性清净。

Explanation: Why is the eye base pure when the four great elements are pure? Because, due to the purity of the earth element, the eye faculty can arise in dependence upon it; yet although the eye faculty has arisen, it is utterly unattainable. Likewise, due to the purity of the water element, the eye faculty can arise in dependence upon it, yet it is also utterly unattainable; due to the purity of the fire element, the eye faculty can arise in dependence upon it, yet it is also utterly unattainable; due to the purity of the wind element, the eye faculty arises in dependence upon it, yet it is also utterly unattainable. Why is the eye faculty utterly unattainable? Because the arising of the eye faculty involves no sovereign controller and no fabrication whatsoever; like the unborn and unceasing nirvāṇa mind, its self-nature is pure.