俱舍論頌疏論本 2.50

2.50

Explanation: Eye and eye-consciousness are differentiated by four alternatives. In 'singly, together, acquired, neither, and so forth', 'singly' refers to the two simple alternatives; 'acquired together' refers to the alternative of both; 'neither' refers to the alternative of neither; 'and so forth' clarifies the four alternatives of possessing and not possessing. First, the first simple alternative within 'singly' means acquiring the eye but not acquiring consciousness: that is, being born in the desire realm and gradually acquiring the eye faculty. The words 'gradually acquiring the eye' are intended to indicate the womb-born, egg-born, and moisture-born; for if one is apparitionally born, the faculties are acquired simultaneously. Generally speaking, the eye faculty is a neutral result of maturation, acquired exclusively simultaneously with dharmas; therefore, in terms of gradual acquisition, it is merely called acquiring the eye. Eye-consciousness admits of the three moral natures, and there is acquisition both before and after, as well as together. Previously, in the intermediate state, eye-consciousness had already arisen. Now, this gradual acquisition of the eye faculty is after taking rebirth. Because consciousness was possessed previously, it is not called 'acquisition'. And when one dies in the formless realm and is born in the second, third, or fourth dhyānas (when born in the second, third, or fourth dhyānas, the intermediate state at its initial arising has only the eye faculty and no eye-consciousness; because eye-consciousness has not yet arisen, it is not called 'acquisition'). The second simple alternative is acquiring consciousness but not acquiring the eye: that is, having already been born in the stages of the second, third, or fourth dhyānas, eye-consciousness presently arises. ('Presently' means right now; 'arises' means is born. Consciousness at the characteristic of arising is called 'presently arising'. This consciousness that arises is at the phase of the characteristic of arising, right in the future; at that time it is called 'acquisition'. Its eye faculty is in the present, which is called 'possession' and not 'acquisition'.) The third alternative, 'both', means acquiring both the faculty and consciousness: that is, when one dies in the formless realm and is born into the desire realm or the Brahmā world. At the initial moment of the intermediate state in the desire realm and the Brahmā world, both faculty and consciousness exist; at that time it is called 'acquisition'. The fourth alternative, 'neither', refers to states other than the aforesaid.