俱舍論記 2.198

2.198

「此中眼根至如色於識」者，釋初一頌。此中眼根望身生地，或等、或上，終不居下。上地之身必有勝眼，不起下劣，故眼不下；身慕上勝眼，故得身上。色、識望眼，或等、或下，必非在上，下眼不能見上色故。色非眼上，上識不依下地眼，下地眼自有識，故云識非眼上。問：何故下眼不見上色？答：以上色細，故下不見上。問：下識隨上根，隨根了上色，亦可下眼隨上識，隨識見上色。答：根是其主，識是其隨，只可識隨根，無容根隨識。問：識得隨根，故隨根了上色。識得隨根，故上識依下根。答：下眼若無識，可須上識依。下眼自有識，上識不依下。問：若下不能見，可須上眼見。下眼見下色，不須上眼見。答：上得兼於下，上眼見下色。問：上得兼於下，上眼見下色。上得兼於下，上身覺下觸。答：下觸是麁，上身非覺。問：下觸是其麁，上身不能覺。下色是其麁，上眼不能見。答：色是離中知，兼能取下麁。觸是合中覺，故非取下麁。色望於識，或等、或上、或下。色識望身，或等、或上、或下。如色望識，思之可知。

Regarding the passage from "Herein, the eye faculty..." up to "as is form in relation to consciousness": This explains the first verse. Herein, the eye faculty, in relation to the stage of birth of the body, is either equal or higher, but never situated lower. A body of a higher stage definitely possesses a superior eye and does not produce an inferior lower one, so the eye is not lower; the body aspires to a superior eye of a higher stage, so the body can be below the eye. Form and consciousness, in relation to the eye, are either equal or lower, but definitely not higher, because a lower eye cannot see higher form. Form is not higher than the eye; a higher consciousness does not rely on an eye of a lower stage, and an eye of a lower stage has its own consciousness, so it says that consciousness is not higher than the eye. Question: Why can a lower eye not see higher form? Answer: Because higher form is subtle, a lower [eye] does not see a higher [form]. Question: A lower consciousness follows a higher faculty and, following the faculty, cognizes higher form; could it not also be that a lower eye follows a higher consciousness and, following the consciousness, sees higher form? Answer: The faculty is the master and consciousness is the follower; it can only be that consciousness follows the faculty, there is no possibility that the faculty follows consciousness. Question: Consciousness can follow the faculty, so following the faculty it cognizes higher form; consciousness can follow the faculty, so a higher consciousness relies on a lower faculty. Answer: If a lower eye had no consciousness, it might need to rely on a higher consciousness; but a lower eye has its own consciousness, so a higher consciousness does not rely on a lower [faculty]. Question: If a lower [eye] cannot see, it may need to be seen by a higher eye; but when a lower eye sees lower form, it does not need to be seen by a higher eye. Answer: What is higher can subsume what is lower; a higher eye sees lower form. Question: What is higher can subsume what is lower, so a higher eye sees lower form; what is higher can subsume what is lower, so a higher body senses lower tangible objects. Answer: Lower tangible objects are coarse; a higher body does not sense them. Question: Lower tangible objects are coarse, so a higher body cannot sense them; lower form is coarse, so a higher eye should not be able to see it. Answer: Form is perceived without contact, and [the higher eye] can also grasp lower coarse [form]; tangible objects are sensed in contact, therefore it does not grasp lower coarse [tangible objects]. Form in relation to consciousness is either equal, higher, or lower. Form and consciousness in relation to the body are either equal, higher, or lower. As with form in relation to consciousness, one can understand this by reflection.