法華玄論 5.153

5.153

Answer: Traditionally it was said that it only explains achieving buddhahood through the contributing causes of the myriad wholesome deeds. This has already been critically assessed above, and now we question it further: If it only explains contributing causes without discerning the buddha-nature, how could buddhahood be achieved? Just as milk without the nature of curd cannot become curd—if milk without the nature of curd could become curd, why would water, which lacks the nature of curd, not become curd? Now we explain that the knowledge and vision of the buddhas is precisely buddha-nature; because one possesses buddha-nature and further practices the myriad wholesome deeds, causes and conditions are complete and buddhahood can then be achieved. Among the four meanings explained in the treatise, the second meaning explains that buddha-nature is precisely the direct cause; the third, causing the two vehicles to know, and the fourth, causing non-retrogressing practice, are both contributing conditions. Furthermore, the first is the fruitional buddha-nature, and the latter three are the causal; within the causal, the contributing and direct [causes], the five natures, are fully present. Moreover, the four meanings of the first set explain opening, showing, awakening, and entering in terms of the fruitional nature and the inherent-nature gate; the latter two sets both explain showing, awakening, and entering in terms of the gate of the revealing cause.