Commentary on The Sutra of the Compendium of Fathers and Sons (CXII)

All Phenomena and Karmic Actions in the Realm of the Five Aggregates Are Impermanent and Illusory

All phenomena within the realm of the five aggregates are subject to arising and ceasing. The conscious mind arises and ceases; the physical body arises and ceases. Likewise, all karmic actions created by the conscious mind and the physical body also arise and cease. These phenomena are all empty. Seeds arise in an instant and cease in an instant; thus, the physical body and conscious mind arise and cease instantaneously, illusory and unreal. Especially at the moment of death, everything vanishes entirely, even the phenomena of instantaneous arising and ceasing disappear. This further demonstrates the illusory nature of the five aggregates; not a single phenomenon can be carried over to the next life.

In the creation of all karmic actions, there is no actual creator, because the conscious mind lacks autonomy and is illusory; the physical body is illusory and lacks autonomy. Both body and mind are like illusions; therefore, such illusory body and mind cannot create karmic actions. In the continuous flow of all karmic actions, there is no actual subject receiving retribution, because the conscious mind is illusory, empty, and devoid of inherent nature, thus it is not the subject receiving retribution; the physical body is illusory, empty, devoid of inherent nature, and also not the subject receiving retribution. All material forms are appearances; all conscious minds are designations. None possess substance; they are merely false appearances differentiated and manifested by the conscious mind.

The worldly pursuits of wealth, sensual pleasures, fame, food, and sleep are likewise empty of inherent nature, illusory, and unobtainable. At birth in this life, one does not bring the fame from the previous life. Even if one was a king or minister in a past life, none of the status or power is brought into this life. None of the family, relatives, or wealth from past lives is brought along; in this life, one must strive anew from the beginning, starting over to acquire wealth, sensual pleasures, fame, food, and sleep. At the end of this life, all the wealth, sensual pleasures, fame, food, sleep, family, relatives, and so on accumulated over a lifetime will vanish. Not a single thing can be taken to the next life. Even the five aggregates and the conscious mind cannot flow into future lives. Except for the sovereign consciousness, the manas, everything else completely disappears.