Selected Lectures on the Pitaka of Father and Son (115)

Original Text: Great King, when body 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. Great King, there is not the slightest phenomenon that goes from this world to another world. Why? Because inherent nature is empty. Thus, one should understand: initial consciousness is empty; initial consciousness is empty. One's own karma is empty; one's own karma is empty. Body consciousness is empty; body consciousness is empty. If cessation occurs, cessation is empty. If arising occurs, arising is empty. Samsara is empty; samsara is empty. Nirvana is empty; nirvana is empty. All are inherently empty. There is no doer, nor is there any experiencer. Neither karma nor its retribution can be apprehended. There is only nominal designation and conceptual differentiation.

Explanation: The Buddha said: Great King, when body consciousness is born, it comes without any origin and has no source; when it ceases, it does not depart. When karmic conditions arise, they likewise come without any origin and depart without any destination. When karmic actions arise, they similarly come without any origin and depart without any destination. Great King, not the slightest phenomenon can go from this world to another world. Why? Because the self-nature of all phenomena is empty. We should understand body consciousness in this way, knowing that the self-nature of body consciousness is empty; understand the karmic actions created by one's own consciousness-mind in this way, knowing that karmic actions are empty in self-nature; understand initial consciousness in this way, knowing that initial consciousness is empty in self-nature; understand that if any phenomenon arises, its arising is empty, and if any phenomenon ceases, its cessation is empty; simultaneously, one should understand that in the creation and flow of karmic actions, there is neither a doer nor an experiencer. All phenomena are merely illusory appearances and nominal designations conceptually differentiated.