釋禪波羅蜜次第法門 2.53

2.53

Now, when a practitioner wishes to perform the great repentance, they should generate great compassion, have pity on all, and deeply penetrate the source of guilt. Why is this? All phenomena are fundamentally empty and quiescent; there is not even merit, how much less guilt? Yet sentient beings fail to reflect skillfully, falsely grasping at the conditioned and giving rise to ignorance along with craving and hatred. From these three poisons, they extensively commit boundless, limitless grave offenses of all kinds, which all arise from a single thought of the unawakened mind. If one wishes to eradicate them, one should merely reflect back: from where does such a mind arise? If it is in the past, the past has already ceased; a phenomenon that has ceased does not exist, and a non-existent phenomenon is not called a mind. If it is in the future, the future has not yet arrived; a phenomenon that has not yet arrived is simply not existent, and a non-existent phenomenon also lacks this mind. If it is in the present, within the present it does not abide for a kṣaṇa; in a sign that does not abide, mind cannot be apprehended.