23.5 Of the Undetermined

Controverted Point: That the aggregates, elements, controlling powers—all save Ill, is undetermined.

Theravādin: Do you then maintain that the marks of the conditioned are lacking in, say, the material aggregate—that matter is not impermanent, not conditioned, has not arisen because of something, is not liable to decay, to perish, to be devoid of passion, to cessation, to change? Is not the opposite true?

Do you imply that only Ill is caused? Yes? But did not the Exalted One say that whatever was impermanent was Ill? Hence, if this be so, and since matter is impermanent, you cannot maintain that only Ill is determined.

The same argument holds good for the other four aggregates (mental), for all the mechanism of sense, for all controlling powers.