法界次第初門 3.69

3.69

Eighth, like a shadow. 'Like a shadow' means that it can only be seen but cannot be grasped. All dharmas are also like this: although seen, heard, sensed, and known by the eye faculty and the rest, they are truly unobtainable. Furthermore, like a shadow, when facing the light it appears, and when not facing the light it is absent; when the latent defilements and afflictions obstruct the light of right view, there is the shadow of the characteristic of self and the characteristic of dharmas; if the latent defilements and afflictions are eradicated, then the characteristic of self and the characteristic of dharmas are both non-existent. Furthermore, like a shadow, when a person goes, it goes, and when a person stays, it stays; the shadow of wholesome and unwholesome karma is also like this: when going to a future life, it also goes, and when staying in the present life, it also stays, because retribution is uninterrupted.