大般涅槃經集解 61.90

61.90

案僧亮曰：答第二難也。先舉最後證，謂譬菩提。灌綆汲取，譬八聖道也。僧宗曰：舉第五事別答。明有果如磁石故，豈可不須修道耶？寶亮曰：答第二難。石能吸鐵，若緣不具，則不能也。眾生亦爾，雖有佛性，若不修道，則不得也。有人行曠野者，譬凡夫行生死也。渴乏者，厭苦情發也。遇井者，涅槃經教也。極深者，因果性理難知也。雖不見水，當知必有。因果性雖難知，未來必有也。求覓灌綆者，譬修道也。井雖有水，無灌不得；眾生佛性，云何不修道而見耶？

Sengliang comments: "This answers the second objection. He first raises the final proof, which is a metaphor for bodhi. Drawing water with a pitcher and rope is a metaphor for the eightfold noble path." Sengzong says: "He raises the fifth case to answer specifically. It clarifies that although the fruit exists like a lodestone, how could it be that one does not need to cultivate the path?" Baoliang says: "This answers the second objection. A lodestone can attract iron, but if the conditions are not complete, it cannot. Sentient beings are also like this: although they have buddhadhātu, if they do not cultivate the path, they do not attain it. 'A person walking through a wilderness' is a metaphor for an ordinary person journeying through saṃsāra. Being 'thirsty and exhausted' means the feeling of revulsion toward suffering arises. 'Encountering a well' refers to the teachings of the Nirvāṇa Sūtra. 'Extremely deep' means the principle of the nature of cause and effect is difficult to know. Although one does not see the water, one should know it is certainly there: although the nature of cause and effect is difficult to know, in the future it will certainly exist. 'Seeking a pitcher and rope' is a metaphor for cultivating the path. Although the well has water, without a pitcher it cannot be obtained; as for the buddhadhātu of sentient beings, how could it be seen without cultivating the path?"