大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 62.29

62.29

Regarding the commentary's phrase “The *Nirvāṇa* says…” and so forth: fourth, it cites the *Nirvāṇa-sūtra*, namely the twenty-ninth fascicle [in the Northern edition], which is the twenty-seventh in the Southern edition: “The Buddha said: ‘Good son! Sentient beings’ buddha-nature is neither one nor two. The Buddhas are equal, just like empty space; all sentient beings share it alike. If someone is able to cultivate the eightfold noble path, you should know that this person will directly see the buddha-nature clearly. Good son! In the Snow Mountains there is a grass named “patience”; if cows eat it, it turns into ghee. Sentient beings’ buddha-nature is also just like this.’” The explanation states: This is the correct meaning. Below, Siṃhanāda, citing the objection, also says: “As the Buddha has spoken: ‘If someone cultivates the eightfold noble path, they see the buddha-nature.’ This meaning is not correct…” Below, the gist of the objection is: if the path were one, other people would have no share in it. Therefore the Buddha brought up a flat and level road to illustrate the eightfold noble [path], making clear that the eightfold noble [path] is capable of seeing the buddha-nature, which means it is not Hinayāna. It is cited according to its meaning in the commentary.