Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way (VII) — by Nagarjuna

VII.1. If origination is a composite product, then the three characteristics of existence: “origination,” “duration,” and “dissolution” are appropriate.
But if origination is a non-composite, then how could there be characteristics of a composite product?

VII.2. When the three are separate, origination of either of the other two characteristics does not suffice to function as a characteristic.
If united in a composite product, how could they all be at one place at one time?

VII.3. If origination, duration, and dissolution are other secondary characteristics of composite products,
It is an infinite regress. If this is not so, they are not composite products.

VII.4. The “originating origination” is only the origination of the basic origination;
Also the origination of the basic origination produces the “originating origination.”

VII.5. But if, according to you, the originating origination produces basic origination,
How, according to you, will this originating origination produce that basic origination if it itself is not produced by basic origination?

VII.6. If, according to you, that which has originated through basic origination produces basic origination,
How does the basic origination, which is yet un-produced by that originating origination, cause that originating origination to be originated?

VII.7. According to you, this, while originating, would certainly cause that to originate—
If this, not being produced, would be able to cause origination.

VII.8. The opponent claim:
As a light is the illuminator of both itself and that which is other than itself,
So origination would originate both itself and that which is other than itself.

VII.9. Nargarjuna answers:
There is no darkness in the light and there where the light is placed.
What could the light illumine? Indeed illumination is the getting rid of darkness.

VII.10. How is darkness destroyed by the light being originated,
When the light, being originated, does not come in contact with darkness?

VII.11. But then, if darkness is destroyed by a light having no contact with darkness,
A light placed here will destroy the darkness of the entire world.

VII.12. If the light illuminated both itself and that which is other than itself,
Then, without a doubt, darkness will cover both itself and that which is other than itself.

VII.13. If it has not yet originated, how does origination produce itself?
And if it has already originated, when it is being produced, what is produced after that which is already produced?

VII.14. In no way does anything originate
by what is being originated,
by what is already originated,
or by what is not yet originated —
Just as it has been said in the analysis of “presently going to,” “that which is already gone to ” and “that which is not yet gone to.”

VII.15. When, in that-which-is-originated, there is nothing which activates that which is being originated,
How can one say: That which is being originated exists presupposing that which is produced?

VII.16. Whatever comes into existence presupposing something else is without self-existence.
As there is an allayment of “being originated,” so also of that which is originated.

VII.17. If some particular thing which is not yet originated is indeed known to exist,
That thing will be originated. What originates if it does not exist?

VII.18. And if the origination originates that which is being originated,
What origination, in turn, would originate that origination?

VII.19. If another origination originates that origination, there will be an infinite regress of originations.
But if non-origination is that which is origination, then everything without qualification would originate.

VII.20. It is not possible that what has originated either exists or does not exist,
Nor that what has not originated either exists or does not exist; this has been demonstrated earlier.

VII.21. The origination of something being destroyed is not possible;
And whatever is not being destroyed, that entity is not possible.

VII.22. Neither an “entity that has endured” nor an “entity that has not endured” endures;
Not even something enduring endures.
And what endures if it is not originated?

VII.23. Duration is not possible of a thing that is being destroyed.
But whatever is not being destroyed, that thing is also not possible.

VII.24. Because every entity always remains in the law of old age and death,
What entities are there which endure without old age and death?

VII.25. The enduring quality of a different duration is as impossible as of that same duration,
So the origination of origination is neither itself nor that which is other than itself.

VII.26. “That which has ceased” does not cease; and “that which has not ceased” does not cease;
Nor even “that which is ceasing.”
For, what can cease if it is produced?

VII.27. Therefore cessation of an enduring entity is not possible.
Moreover, cessation of a non-enduring entity is not possible.

VII.28. Indeed, a state of existence does not cease because of this state;
And a different state of existence does not cease because of a different state.

VII.29. So, if the production of all dharmas is not possible,
Then neither is the cessation of all dharmas possible.

VII.30. Therefore cessation of a real existing entity is not possible;
And certainly both an existing entity and a non-existing entity cannot be possible in the same case.

VII.31. Even more, cessation of a non-real existing entity is not possible.
Just as there is no second decapitation!

VII.32. There is no cessation by means of itself; nor cessation by something other than itself;
Just as there is no origination of origination by itself nor by another.

VII.33. Because the existence of production, duration, and cessation is not proved, there is no composite product;
And if a composite product is not proved, how can a non-composite product be proved?

VII.34. As a magic trick, a dream or a fairy castle.
Just so should we consider origination, duration, and cessation.

Source: Orientalia