俱舍論疏 28.69

28.69

The Śāstra says: "However, a sūtra says... [because it is not an everlasting departure]," which resolves a covert objection. The import of the covert objection is: if the formless realm has no form, then formless existence should depart from existence of form; why then does a sūtra state that existence does not depart from existence? There are three explanations: First, existence of one's own level cannot depart from existence of one's own level; that is, the defiled path of one's own level cannot suppress the defilements of one's own level, and it is necessary to rely on a higher level to be able to sever them. As for "not universally departing": although existence of a higher level departs from existence of a lower level, it cannot depart from the existence of the peak of existence (naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatana). Although it can depart from the existence of lower levels, because one is certain to regress later, it is not an everlasting departure. It is based on such reasoning that it is said "existence does not depart from existence."