bodhi wrote: ↑Fri Apr 13, 2018 12:00 am
Virtual particles, and radioactive decay is random and impossible to predict.
In Mahayana Buddhism (including Zen), saying “cause & effect is an illusion” is a heresy and failure in logic (saying they do is also an error, but a smaller one).
In the same sense evolution is a "heresy and failure in logic," according to folks who lived over 2k years ago. But if you can dig up a doctrinal reference where this heresy of claiming cause & effect is an illusion is specifically declared I'm sure we would all be fasciated to see it.
Impossible to predict does not mean without cause.
Again, I am pointing out what is argued (and that the quote in the OP is pretty standard orthodox stuff). I am not arguing the case.
References in the Taisho, since you asked, would begin with:
The Middle Treatise" (Ch. 中論, pinyin: Zhonglun, T. 1564; Skt. Madhyamakaśāstra), comprising Nāgārjuna's Mūlamadhyamakakārikā ("Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way") alongside a commentary by *Vimalākṣa / *Piṅgala (Ch. 青目, pinyin: Qingmu)
"The Treatise on the Twelve Gates" (Ch. 十二門論, pinyin: Shiermenlun, T. 1568), allegedly Nāgārjuna's *Dvādaśadvāraśāstra,[6] also reconstructed as *Dvādaśamukhaśāstra or as *Dvādaśanikāyaśāstra
"The Hundred[-Verse] Treatise" (Ch. 百論, pinyin: Bailun, T. 1569; Skt. Śatakaśāstra,[9] or Śataśāstra consisting of a commentary by a certain master Vasu on some verses by Āryadeva.
"Commentary on the Great Perfection of Wisdom" (Ch. 大智度論, pinyin: Dazhidulun, T. 1509; Skt. Mahāprajñāpāramitāupadeśa). Attributed to Nāgārjuna.
There are several English translations of most of these.