大般涅槃經集解 54.89

54.89

道生曰：答問佛性體也。要當先見不空，然後見空乃第一義。第一義空，已有不空矣。佛始見之，故唯佛是佛性也。十住菩薩亦得名見，下至大乘學者又得名焉。所以舉第一義空為佛性者，良以義類是同，而該下學、用進後徒，不拘常義而無非是，必可以答無畏問也。僧亮曰：佛智之境是因性也。僧宗曰：答初問也。初問果，今答云以覺了為佛、下改名性為第一義空，舉境以辨果智之用也。境下不過常以無常，常是理中之極，故稱第一義也。空者金剛，以是體是苦集，不免壞敗，故可空也。寶亮曰：第一問有兩意，今答亦二別。且先出果性。佛果如如，以法性為體，無一切相，出百非之表，故名第一義空也。

Daosheng comments: This answers the question concerning the essence of the buddhadhātu. One must first see the non-empty, and only then is seeing emptiness the supreme truth. Supreme emptiness already contains the non-empty within it. The Buddha is the first to see it, and therefore only the Buddha is the buddhadhātu. Bodhisattvas of the tenth abode may also be called 'seeing', and down to students of the Great Vehicle, they may also be so designated. The reason supreme emptiness is cited as the buddhadhātu is precisely because its meaning and category are identical, encompassing the lower levels of study to advance future disciples, not constrained by the notion of permanence yet never incorrect; it can certainly answer Fearless's question. Sengliang comments: The sphere of the Buddha's wisdom is the causal nature. Sengzong comments: This answers the first question. The first question was about the fruition; now the answer states that through awakened comprehension one is a Buddha, and below, 'nature' is renamed 'supreme emptiness', citing the sphere to distinguish the function of the fruition-wisdom. What lies below the sphere does not exceed permanence and impermanence; permanence is the ultimate within principle, and is therefore termed 'supreme'. Emptiness is the diamond [vajra-like contemplation], for since its essence is suffering and origin and cannot escape decay, it can be emptied. Baoliang comments: The first question had two senses, and now the answer also makes two distinctions. First, he presents the nature as fruition. The fruition of Buddhahood is Suchness (tathatā), taking the dharmatā as its essence, devoid of all characteristics and transcending the hundred negations; hence it is named 'supreme emptiness'.