釋禪波羅蜜次第法門 4.21

4.21

First, regarding the delusion of reckoning annihilation and permanence: A practitioner, while cultivating concentration, suddenly gives rise to corrupt thinking and with a sharp mind discriminates: 'Did past self and dharmas perish, so that present self and dharmas exist? Or do they exist without having perished?' Because of such reflection, a mind of views arises. Inferring and investigating the three periods of time: if one asserts they perished, one falls into annihilation; if one asserts they did not perish, one falls into permanence. Deluded thoughts such as these do not rest for a thought-moment. Relying on this, their sharp intellect is swift, their eloquence is unhindered, and they engage in contentious frivolous sophistry and perform various evil deeds, which can obstruct the supramundane dharmas of correct concentration. This is the mark of the manifestation of the delusion of reckoning annihilation and permanence.