大般涅槃經集解 20.8

20.8

Sengliang comments: First stating that the principle cannot be one-sided, he wishes to reveal the fault of the one-sided. 'Has no benefit': if all is without self, then cultivating the path yields no fruit, which properly discerns the fault of the one-sided. Sengzong comments: 'Not free from suffering': if the self is in the aggregates, it is identical with the aggregates. If the self is permanent, suffering should also be permanent. If suffering were permanent, it could never be escaped. Yet now suffering can definitely be escaped; hence we know the permanent fruit is not in the body. The six-fascicle version says: 'If there were a self, one would never experience suffering. Yet one must experience suffering; therefore we know there is no self.' 'No benefit': if one's ultimate end is extinction, then one cultivates pure conduct in vain. Baoliang comments: If one conceives this body to have a spiritual self, that is the view of permanence, and this person will never be free from suffering; they also say the Buddha likewise has a self of the spiritual self. 'No benefit': if one says that this body, including the Buddha, is entirely annihilated, since both would be empty phenomena, what benefit is there in cultivating pure conduct in vain?