俱舍論頌疏論本 16.5

16.5

[Regarding] 'evil, form, and desire-realm wholesome': 'Evil' means that all unwholesome karma of the desire realm is exclusively called black because it is defiled by nature, and its maturation is also black because it is disagreeable. The wholesome karma of the form realm is exclusively called white because it is not mixed with evil, and its maturation is also white because it is agreeable. The wholesome karma of the desire realm is called black and white because it is intermixed with evil, and its maturation is also black and white because it is intermixed with undesirable fruits. Wholesome nature is white and not black, yet because black comes and intermingles with it, it is given the name 'black and white'; hence the name 'black and white' is established with respect to their alternating admixture before and after, not based on its intrinsic nature. Therefore the treatise states: 'This name "black and white" is established based on the continuum, not based on intrinsic nature. Why is that? Because no single karma and no single maturation is both black and white, mutually contradictory' (thus far the text of the treatise). Question: 'Since the fruit of evil karma in the desire realm is intermixed with the fruit of wholesome karma, it should be called white and black.' Answer: 'The fruit of unwholesome karma is not necessarily intermixed with the fruit of wholesome karma; for instance, in the person of an icchantika there is no wholesome karma, and in the hells there is no agreeable fruit. The fruit of wholesome karma in the desire realm is necessarily intermixed with evil, because in the desire realm evil surpasses good: that is, wrong view of the desire realm can sever wholesome roots, whereas wholesome karma of the desire realm cannot sever evil; hence evil in the desire realm is stronger than good.'