俱舍論疏 20.73

20.73

論「若謂此言至義已成立」，經部逆破有部通經。有部通云：本無者，本無現在，今有現在。本有今無者，本有現在，今無現在。作如是救，此非理也，以現在性與彼眼根體無別故。若無現世性即無眼根，此即顯去、來無眼根體，義已成立。

The Śāstra says: "If they say that these words... the thesis is already established": the Sautrāntikas proactively refute the Sarvāstivādins' resolution of the sūtra. The Sarvāstivādin resolves it by saying: 'Previously non-existent' means it was previously non-existent as present, and now exists as present; 'previously existent and now non-existent' means it was previously existent as present, and is now non-existent as present. To make such a rescue is unreasonable, because the present nature and the substance of that visual faculty are not distinct. If there is no present nature, there is no visual faculty; this demonstrates that the past and future lack the substance of the visual faculty, and the thesis is already established.