維摩經略疏垂裕記 9.75

9.75

Second, under "Like the non-form," directly explaining has two parts: first, explaining the simile of form in the formless realm, which has two parts: first, directly explaining. Regarding "Śāri[putra]-abhidharma": this is also the Lesser Vehicle's own teaching that there is form. However, within the Lesser Vehicle, in the end they take the formlessness of the formless [realm] to be correct, and regard the teaching that there is form as non-definitive meaning. Thus in the Vibhāṣā, the Vibhajyavādin says that the formless has form, while Yuktadeva says that the formless is without form; which one is correct? Answer: The Buddha's sūtra says "name-and-form conditions consciousness," so there should also be form. Furthermore, another sūtra says "life-span, warmth, and consciousness, these three always accompany one another"; since the formless has life-span and consciousness, how could it lack warmth? Furthermore, other monks say of the remaining four aggregates, stating that consciousness has transmigrating birth and death, which should not be so. For example, being born from the desire realm into the formless realm, passing through twenty, forty, sixty, or eighty thousand kalpas with form severed, and later being born back into the desire realm to generate form again: [if so,] entering the realm without remainder would again have to continue with formations. Wishing to keep this fault from occurring, they say the formless has form. As for saying there is no form, based on which sūtra is this? Answer: The sūtra says: "Liberated and tranquil, passing beyond form and entering the formless"; hence we know there is no form. It also says: "Detached from desire regarding form, detached from all regarding the formless, one enters nirvāṇa"; hence we know there is no form. How are these two reconciled? Which is superior? Answer: The explanation of non-existence is superior. How is the explanation of existence reconciled? Answer: Because it is non-definitive meaning. Question: Citing the sūtras, how is it reconciled? Answer: The desire [realm] has name-and-form, while the formless does not. The desire [realm] has the three dharmas accompanying one another, while the formless does not. Regarding the treatise on the continuation of form, there is a fourfold analysis: formless continues form, form continues formless, form continues form, formless continues formless; hence we know there is no fault. Now, because the Lesser Vehicle itself states that there is form, its meaning accords with the present simile, which is why it is cited.