弘明集 5.18

5.18

The guest objected: 'You project the spirit's illumination beyond corporeal form and point to the Great Ultimate prior to things. This truly has its rationale. However, principle values satisfying the mind; only then can discussion be exhausted. Spirit and corporeal form have never diverged for a single moment. If they diverged, there would be no spirit. This is why plants and trees have neither spirit nor consciousness. Once this corporeal form is exhausted, where will the spirit attach itself, that you call it indestructible? If it could indeed be indestructible, it would naturally contradict its own numinous nature and not rely on corporeal form. Since it would not rely on corporeal form, by what principle does it constitute life together with corporeal form without ever diverging? Since they cannot diverge, it is conclusively knowable that their root of life is the same.'