法華玄義釋籤 5.11

5.11

明圓十二緣中為四：先立根，次「即事」下立意，三引證，四結名。初二如文。引證中三：先引，次「無明」下釋，三「故言無明」下結。初者，「大經十二因緣名為佛性」，佛性即三因也。「即是中道」者，二十五云：「善男子！生死本際凡有二種：一者無明，二者有愛，是二中間即有生老病死之苦，是名中道。如是中道能破生死，故名中道。」以是義故中道之法名為佛性。

In clarifying the perfect twelve links, there are four [parts]: first, setting forth the faculties; next, from 'identical to phenomena' onward, setting forth the intent; third, citing scriptural testimony; fourth, concluding with the name. The first two are as in the text. In citing scriptural testimony, there are three parts: first, citing; next, from 'ignorance' onward, explaining; third, from 'therefore it is said that ignorance' onward, concluding. As for the first, 'In the *Great Sūtra*, the twelve links of dependent origination are named the Buddha-nature': Buddha-nature is simply the three causes. 'Identical to the Middle Way': the twenty-fifth fascicle states, 'Good son! The fundamental boundaries of saṃsāra are generally of two kinds: first, ignorance; second, craving for existence. In between these two there are the sufferings of birth, old age, sickness, and death. This is called the Middle Way. Such a Middle Way can destroy saṃsāra; therefore it is called the Middle Way.' By this meaning, the dharma of the Middle Way is named Buddha-nature.