Land of Enlightened Wisdom

Chapter Four: Analysis of the Aggregates

Apart from the cause of form,
Form is not observed.
Likewise, aside from so-called form,
No cause of form can be observed either. [4.1]

If there were form apart from its causes,
It would follow that form has no cause.
Yet there are no objects at all
That do not have causes. [4.2]

If, aside from form,
There were a cause of form,
There would be a cause with no effect,
Yet there are no causes without effects. [4.3]

When form exists,
A cause of form does not make sense,
Yet when form does not exist,
A cause of form does not make sense either. [4.4]

A form without a cause is impossible,
Utterly impossible.
Therefore, do not give rise
To any thoughts about form at all. [4.5]

It is not right to say
That effects resemble their causes.
It is not right to say
That effects do not resemble their causes. [4.6]

With feeling, identification, formation,
Mind, and all things
The steps are, in all regards,
The same as in the case of forms\. [4.7]

When a critique is made using emptiness,
Whatever may be replied
Will not be a reply,
But the same as what is still to be proven. [4.8]

When an explanation is given using emptiness
Whatever flaws one may find
Will not be found to be flaws,
But the same as what is still to be proven. [4.9] <- Prev Next ->

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