大般涅槃經集解 29.30

29.30

Sengliang comments: Above, death was spoken of, but its suffering was not yet explained. Now, saying that in a perilous and difficult place there are no provisions: the sense-bases that receive [feelings] cease, and sense-bases that do not receive arise; this is called death. When the non-receiving sense-bases arise, the road of life is severed; this compares to perilous difficulty. When the receiving sense-bases do not arise, because they do not arise there are no dharmas; because there are no dharmas they cannot be drawn upon for use, which compares to having no provisions. The road ahead is boundless and one knows not where one goes, which compares to being distant and remote. The five sense-bases all cease, and the mental consciousness journeys alone, which compares to having no companion. Driven by the wind of karma, seeking birth without stopping, compares to constantly journeying. The five destinies being undivided compares to not knowing the boundary. Encountering the conditions for birth, riding folly to take birth, compares to having no lamp or light. The various parables above spoke of the suffering of seeking to take birth; from here below, they illustrate the suffering of death. It is said that all suffering is due to taking birth. The cessation of the mind is called death; its ceasing does not follow an entrance, which compares to having no door. The arising of the non-receiving sense-bases compares to having a location. Feeling neither pain nor pleasure compares to having no point of pain. Medicines being inapplicable compares to being incurable. The sense-bases gradually ceasing and being uncontrollable by great strength compares to having no obstruction. The receiving sense-bases having already ceased and being unable to arise again compares to being unable to escape. The ceasing and arising sense-bases being different while the outer appearance is unaltered compares to having no destruction. People taking no delight in seeing it compares to sorrow and distress. Being unable to harm people compares to not being an evil color. People fearing its misfortune compares to terror. These sense-bases all ceasing compares to being within the body. Their ceasing being invisible compares to being imperceptible.