宗鏡錄 66.4

66.4

Answer: The phenomena of defilement and purity arise from causes and conditions; they do not depend on a real self. Why is this? A verse says: / 'Just as external things in the world / Cause harm and benefit apart from a self, / Although internally there is no real self, / The principle of defilement and purity should be established.' / The treatise says: 'Just as external worldly things, although lacking a self, nevertheless have various calamities and misfortunes, as well as favorable benefits, successfully accomplishing activities; just so, internal phenomena, although lacking a self, have the various principles of defilement and purity established. Therefore there is no fault.'