坐禪三昧經 2.88

2.88

The answer is: "Although there is no self, the six sense faculties serve as causes, the six sense objects serve as conditions, and within them arise the six consciousnesses. Because of the conjunction of the three things, the dharma of contact arises, recalling and knowing various karmas; due to this there is coming and going, and speaking of there being saṃsāra on this basis. For example, with a sun-crystal jewel, conditioned by the sun, dry cow dung, and the expedient means of their conjunction, fire comes forth. The five aggregates are also like this: conditioned by the arising of these five aggregates, the five aggregates of a future life emerge; it is not that these five aggregates go to the future life, nor is it apart from these five aggregates that the five aggregates of a future life are obtained. The five aggregates merely emerge from causes and conditions. For example, a sprout emerges from a grain of seed: this seed is not the sprout, nor does the sprout arise from any other sprout; they are neither different nor one. Obtaining a body in a future life is also like this! For example, when a tree does not yet have trunk-joints, branches, leaves, flowers, or fruit, upon obtaining the seasonal causes and conditions, its flowers and leaves are fully provided; the retribution of wholesome and unwholesome actions is also like this! Because the seed is destroyed, it is not eternal and not one; because the sprout, trunk, and leaves arise, it is not severed and not different; the continuity of death and birth is also like this!"