中觀論疏 2.9

2.9

Next, to explain "neither identical nor different": although conventional truth is free from real intrinsic production and cessation as well as determined annihilation and permanence, there is still the fear of falling into identity or difference. For example, the Sāṃkhya and the Mahāsāṃghika explain cause and effect as having the same substance, while the Vaiśeṣika and the Sthaviravāda explain cause and effect as having different substances. Identity and difference such as these both undermine the middle way of cause and effect in conventional truth; therefore, "neither identical nor different" is explained next. Question: How are cause and effect in conventional truth neither identical nor different? Answer: The chapter "Examination of Dharmas" states: "Dharmas arisen from various causes and conditions are neither identical with the cause nor different from the cause." Since cause and effect are not the same, having the two senses of agent and object, how could they be identical? Because the cause is named the cause of the effect, and the effect is named the effect of the cause, how could they be different? Therefore, it is termed the middle way.