大般涅槃經義記 9.11

9.11

In the fourth, the non-Buddhist interrogates the Tathāgata in return: "If there is no self, who performs good and evil?" Below, the Buddha first refutes him distinctly by four points. "If the self is the agent, how can it be called permanent? If it were permanent, how could it sometimes perform good and sometimes perform evil?" This is the first refutation. "If it acts at certain times, how can one still say that the self is boundless?" This is the second refutation. "If the self is the agent, why would it practice evil?" This is the third refutation. "If the self is the knower, why would it give rise to doubts about the non-self of sentient beings?" This is the fourth refutation. From "For this reason..." onward, he concludes the refutation generally.