摩訶止觀 2.50

2.50

Answer: Although not-yet-thinking has not yet arisen, it is not ultimate non-existence. Just as when a person has not yet acted, and later acts, one cannot say there is no person simply because they have not yet acted. If there were definitely no person, who would act later? Because there is a person who has not yet acted, there will be the performance of action. Mind is also like this: because of not-yet-thinking, there comes to be about-to-think; if there were no not-yet-thinking, how could there be about-to-think? Therefore, although not-yet-thinking is not yet present, there cannot be the ultimate non-existence of thought. Although having-thought has ceased, it can also be observed. Just as when a person has finished acting, one cannot say they do not exist; if there were definitely no person, who performed the action before? The cessation of the having-thought mind is also like this; it cannot be said to be permanently ceased. If it were permanently ceased, that would be the view of annihilationism, without cause and without effect. Therefore, although having-thought has ceased, it can also be contemplated.