俱舍論疏 2.49

2.49

From the Śāstra's "It is said... therefore it uses the word 'only'": this is the explanation. In the text there are three parts: first, only having vitarka and vicāra; second, presence and absence being indeterminate; third, only without vitarka and without vicāra. This text is the first. Among the eighteen dhātus, the five consciousnesses only have vitarka and vicāra, which gives the names of the dhātus. "Because they are constantly associated with vitarka and vicāra" explains why they only have vitarka and vicāra. "Because their mode of activity is coarse and proceeds through external gates" explains why they are constantly associated with vitarka and vicāra. The Nyāyānusāra states: "The author of the Śāstra explains: 'Because their mode of activity is coarse and proceeds through external gates.' This reason is illogical, for we observe that when mental consciousness proceeds through internal gates, it is also constantly associated with them. The explanation should instead be made as follows: the five consciousnesses exist only in levels accompanied by vitarka and vicāra, and not in the desire realm [or higher without them]. In the first dhyāna, there are no minds and mental factors—apart from vitarka and vicāra themselves—that are unassociated with vitarka and vicāra; what need is there to use the external gates as a reason to qualify them?" The Abhidharmakośa defends its explanation: first, having a coarse mode of activity is the general cause; second, proceeding through external gates is the particular cause. The five consciousnesses possess both. Although mental consciousness functioning at the internal gate lacks proceeding through external gates, it has a coarse mode of activity, and therefore has vitarka and vicāra. Although mental consciousness functioning at the external gate on higher levels has proceeding through external gates, it lacks a coarse mode of activity, and therefore is without vitarka and without vicāra. We examine this: since the presence or absence of vitarka and vicāra is solely determined by the mode of activity, why resort to external or internal gates? For the external gate can lack vitarka and vicāra, and the internal gate can have vitarka and vicāra. Thus we know that the external gate is not the cause. Now we examine further: because the five consciousnesses solely have a coarse mode of activity, they are constantly associated with vitarka and vicāra, and proceed solely through external gates. "To show the definitive meaning, it therefore uses the word 'only'" shows the reason why the five consciousnesses are only associated with vitarka and vicāra, and therefore do not extend to higher levels.