[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [弘明集](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102) › 9.18 # 弘明集 9.18 弘明集 9.18 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [9.18](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102.9.18) 答曰。神之於質猶利之於刀。形之於用猶刀之於利。利之名非刀也。刀之名非利也。然而捨利無刀捨刀無利。未聞刀沒而利存。豈容形亡而神在也。 > Answer: The relation of the spirit to material substance is like that of sharpness to a blade; the relation of corporeal form to function is like that of a blade to sharpness. The name 'sharpness' is not 'blade', and the name 'blade' is not 'sharpness'. Nevertheless, apart from sharpness there is no blade, and apart from a blade there is no sharpness. One has never heard of a blade perishing while its sharpness remains; how could one allow that the corporeal form perishes while the spirit persists? > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 9.17](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102.9.17) - [Next: 9.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102.9.19) - [Up: 9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102.9) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102~en-mt.9.18) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102.9.18](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102.9.18) · Pramāṇa