成唯識論演祕 6.96

6.96

Answer: If the formless realm were not the mind-made gods, it would not have been appropriate for the novice to challenge Śāriputra, nor should the Buddha have said: 'Do you not consider the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception to be mind-made?' According to the words of rebuke and challenge between the Buddha and the novice, it is clear that it was already accepted that mind-made gods encompass the formless realm. Next, proving the concentration: Śāriputra merely said that mind-made gods can give rise to it again; because his words made no distinction, it therefore encompasses the formless realm. If one says that Śāriputra intended only the form realm, this is also incorrect, because the text does not say so. Even if it were so, since the text does not exclude it, one clearly knows that his intent was merely for that single occasion. The Buddha's rebuke merely stated that he did not grasp the venerable one's intent, not that the formless realm lacks the meaning of being able to arise. For this reason, the author of the treatise, relying on the text and deducing the principle, cites it as proof.