大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 75.26

75.26

Regarding the commentary's statement, "Second, according to the meaning of the cloth abiding in its own position" and so forth: abiding in its own [position] is being unchanging, and the characteristic of emptiness of essence is precisely tathatā. Since the two meanings accord with each other and converge characteristics into the nature, it is called "reverting the branch to the root." The root is the nature, and the branch is characteristics. In the commentary, from "The sūtra says: 'All sentient beings are precisely tathatā'" onward, it cites testimony. This is from the Maitreya section in the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa-sūtra. That sūtra says: "Is the prediction received from the arising of tathatā, or is the prediction received from the ceasing of tathatā? If the prediction were received through the arising of tathatā, tathatā has no arising. If the prediction were received through the ceasing of tathatā, tathatā has no ceasing. All sentient beings are tathatā; all dharmas are also tathatā. All the noble ones and sages are also tathatā, and even Maitreya is also tathatā. If Maitreya receives a prediction, all sentient beings should also receive a prediction. Why is this? Tathatā is neither dual nor different. If Maitreya attains anuttarasamyaksaṃbodhi, all sentient beings should also attain it. Why is this? All sentient beings are the characteristic of bodhi. If Maitreya attains extinction, all sentient beings should also attain extinction. Why is this? The buddhas know that all sentient beings are completely quiescent, which is the characteristic of nirvāṇa, and do not undergo further extinction. Therefore, Maitreya, do not entice the devaputras with such a dharma." Here, the commentary's text briefly cites the essentials of two lines. The mention of "and so forth" has two meanings: first, it includes the rest of the text of the Vimalakīrti, as cited above; second, it includes other texts stating that all are tathatā. Thus this sūtra says: "All dharmas are tathatā, / The realm of the buddhas is also like this; / Down to not a single dharma / Has arising or ceasing within tathatā," and so forth.