弘明集 9.18

English (machine translation) 9.18

Language: English

9.18

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?

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Linked texts (1)

弘明集 — 僧祐, Classical Chinese