Chapter 4. Investigation of the Skandhas

Apart from the cause of form, form is not found; and the cause of form, apart from form, is not observed either.

If form exists apart from the cause of form, it follows that form is without a cause; and there is nowhere and never a thing without a cause.

And if the cause of form existed apart from form, there would be a cause without an effect; but there is no cause without an effect.

When form already exists, a cause of form is impossible; and when form does not exist, a cause of form is equally impossible.

And a form without a cause is likewise impossible in any way whatsoever; therefore one should not devise any imagined constructions concerning form.

It will not do [to claim] that the effect is similar to the cause; nor will it do [to claim] that the effect is not similar to the cause.

As for feelings, consciousness, perceptions and formations in every respect, and as for all existents whatever — the order [of the analysis] is the same as it is for form.

Whoever, when an objection is raised against him, answers by appealing to emptiness — for him everything [in his objection] remains unremoved and turns out to be equal to [that] which is to be proved.

Whoever, when [something] is being explained to him, raises a criticism, answering by appealing to emptiness — for him everything [in his criticisms] remains unconfirmed and turns out to be equal to [that] which is to be proved.