成唯識論了義燈 3.86

3.86

The treatise says: "Therefore, when the vessel world is about to be destroyed or newly formed, it is also presently transformed." Question: When it is about to be formed, it can be used by beings of other realms, but when it is destroyed, what use is there that beings of other [realms] transform it? Since beings of other [realms] transform it, and the cause of beings' transformation remains, how could there ever be an end to it? Answer: It transforms because the karma of those other beings that erfares their realm has matured. If not, since during the abiding period they transform this in common, when the beings of this realm are gone, why would it be destroyed? From this it is known that the karma of destruction of others transforms it. Just as when a being is born here, the primary material elements (adhitiṣṭhati-rūpa) transformed by others perish and are born in another plane, or at the time of parinirvāṇa, the primary material elements transformed by others swell and gradually rot and disintegrate; when the power of the karma of destruction is exhausted, the three calamities also cease. It is also because the realm originally transformed by this birth serves as the leading cause (ākṣepaka-hetu). The lower three Dhyāna-nirvāṇa-sūtras state that it is due to internal faults, speaking in terms of the leading cause: because it is erfared by their shared karma, when that realm is formed, the disasters at the time of birth in other realms are led by them. If not for another reason, what would be the use of this statement regarding leading? Therefore, according to the definitive meaning and not the compliant teaching (anuvṛtti-dvāra), when the force of the leading cause is exhausted, all these cease. Question: The Vimalakīrti-sūtra says: "Or he manifests the end of the kalpa burning, heaven and earth all completely blazing; sentient beings hold the notion of permanence, and he illuminates them to make them understand swift destruction." This is transformed and arisen by the supernatural powers of buddhas and bodhisattvas; why only sentient beings? Answer: Transformation is not excluded, but it is not actual destruction; actual destruction is due to karma, not supernatural power. If it were definitely due to supernatural power, the periods of destruction would not be fixed. Hence the previous objection: "It should actually transform into this defiled land"; if one were to allow that it actually transforms the calamitous destruction of the world, there would be the fault of proving what is already accepted (siddhasādhana). In this present text, it speaks of actual formation and destruction, not relying on transformation. Question: At the time of the kalpa's destruction, does the form of empty space (ākāśa-dhātu-rūpa) exist or not? If it exists, why is it not destroyed? If it does not exist, it contradicts the sūtra. The sūtra says: "In the empty kalpa, only the form of cavities appears," which is the form of empty space. Answer: Although it exists, it is not destroyed, because it is not produced by the karma of formation and destruction. If it is allowed that it can be used, others constantly transform it. If the three calamities can be used, others also constantly transform them. If it were subsumed under formation and destruction, there should be formation and destruction. From this it is known that although it is transformed by the consciousness of others, it is not subsumed under formation and destruction. Question: Even if born elsewhere, it is allowed to transform in one's own plane; like the great ocean water in this realm, do the sentient beings of the desire realm transform it in common or not? If you allow that they transform it in common, the gods of the desire realm should see the lower water; why do they take it to be lapis lazuli? Since they see lapis lazuli, it is clear that they do not transform it in common. If they do not transform it in common, do the devas have water or not? Answer: The treatise says that what is of shared use can be transformed in common; the ocean is not of shared use, so they do not transform water; could there be [such water] in heaven? If so, the eight great hot hells and the like, not being used by the noble ones, should not be transformed [by them]. They answer: Because they are presently in the same plane. If so, water and the like should be so, as devas are presently in the same plane. Answer: The great ocean is transformed in common. As for seeing lapis lazuli, that speaks of distinct water. If so, when fish and the like dwell in water, they see houses; sentient beings in the great ocean should also see houses. If you grant that they do not see the ocean, then it is not transformed in the same plane. If you grant that they see the ocean water and the like, should they not take it to be houses? Answer: It is granted that distinct houses reside in the ocean water, just like living in caves in the earth, due to distinct karmic power. If other distinct waters are one place with four perceptual objects, that is not barred in principle. It is due to distinct karma, like the solitary hells and so on.