Lecture Notes on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (88)

Is killing something that truly exists?

When one realizes no-self, not only is the person empty, but karmic actions are also empty. For example, when I kill someone, is there an "I" who is killing? What is called "I"? My conscious mind, the conscious mind that wants to kill, is illusory and empty; my physical body is illusory and empty—so is there such a person as me? There is no such person as me. Is the knife I hold real? It is not real. Then does the karmic action of my killing someone exist? It is empty. The person is empty, the object is empty, and thus the action of deeds is empty—the karmic action of my taking a knife and killing someone is illusory. Is there anyone performing the act of killing? No. The person killed by me—is there such a person? No; his physical body is likewise empty and false, his conscious mind is likewise empty and illusory, his feelings are empty and illusory, his suffering is empty and illusory. So is there a self, an other, or a karmic action? None of these exist. As long as one applies effort in contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) in this way, it will be hard not to realize the fruits of the path; one can even see the mind and attain enlightenment, and can even cultivate to the fruition of a first-bhūmi bodhisattva.