宗鏡錄 72.17

72.17

答。彼先滅時。已於今識為開導故。意云。彼前念心王臨欲滅時。有其力用。能引後念令生。作此功能了。便滅。即現在一念有行後功能。以為法體。非取過去已滅無體法為依。

Answer: When it previously ceased, it had already provided opening and guidance for the present consciousness. The meaning is: when that preceding consciousness-king was about to cease, it had the power and function to lead the succeeding moment to arise; having performed this function, it then ceased. Thus, the present single moment having the function of setting into motion the succeeding [moment] is taken as the dharma-essence; it does not take past, already ceased dharmas devoid of entity as the basis.