大般涅槃經集解 54.143

54.143

案道生曰：本有種生，非起滅之謂，是以常樂無為耳。僧亮曰：以中道常故，佛性常也。僧宗曰：言性理是常，眾生以惑覆故不得常用。雖未得常用，要是常因。承此句，可以義合第三問也。寶亮曰：照既窮源，生死苦盡，所以言常也。

Daosheng comments: It is intrinsically possessed as an origin of arising, not something of emergence and cessation; hence it is permanently joyful and asaṃskṛta. Sengliang comments: Because the Middle Way is permanent, buddhadhātu is permanent. Sengzong comments: This means that the principle of the nature is permanent; sentient beings, being covered by delusion, cannot obtain its permanent function. Although they have not yet obtained its permanent function, it is certainly the cause of permanence. Following this sentence, its meaning can be correlated with the third question. Baoliang comments: Illumination having already exhausted the source, the suffering of birth and death is ended; therefore it is said to be permanent.