釋摩訶衍論 4.69

4.69

The root [treatise] states: Furthermore, awakening and non-awakening have two kinds of marks. What are the two? First, the mark of identity; second, the mark of difference. As for the mark of identity: just as various earthenware vessels are all identical in the nature and mark of fine dust; so too, the various karmic illusions of the undefiled and ignorance are all identical in the nature and mark of tathatā. Therefore, based on this meaning, it is said in a sūtra: 'All sentient beings are originally eternally abiding and entered into nirvāṇa; the dharma of bodhi is neither a mark that can be cultivated nor a mark that can be produced; it is ultimately unobtainable, nor are there marks of physical form that can be seen. That there are those who see marks of physical form is merely made by the karmic illusions that accord with defilement; it is not the non-empty nature of cognitive form, because the mark of cognition is invisible.' As for the mark of difference: just as various earthenware vessels are each different from one another; so too, the undefiled and ignorance differ according to the differences of illusions of defilement and differences of illusions of the nature's defilement.