大般涅槃經集解 55.88

55.88

Sengliang comments: What he brought forward are all common characteristics of the saṃskṛta, which, when contrasted with the true self of nirvāṇa, cannot be equated with non-self. "For this reason, it is a cause" refers to the two causes above. "It is a fruit" refers to the two fruits above. Nirvāṇa is fruit and not cause; buddhadhātu is cause and not fruit. If nirvāṇa is only a fruit and not suffering, then buddhadhātu is also only a cause and should not be suffering. "Not the fruit of the śramaṇa" means it is not those two fruits, but not that it is not other fruits that are suffering. "It is a revealing cause" means it is not those two causes, clarifying that it is a revealing cause and not a generative cause. Baoliang says: One should know that the essence of nirvāṇa is ultimately without cause, just like non-self and the lack of what belongs to self. Although he cites the initial proposition to answer, he immediately dismisses it afterward, clarifying that nirvāṇa is unlike worldly dharmas, which is why it is permanent. Regarding "is a cause and not a fruit": this again refers to the primary cause buddhadhātu. The primary cause resides solely in the causal stage and cannot be termed a fruit. Regarding "because it is not produced from causes": since the primary cause buddhadhātu is not produced from good or evil causes, its single function is immutable; reaching Buddhahood it is unmoved, reaching Buddhahood it is unperturbed; hence it is not a dharma produced from causes. Since its essence is not produced from causes, it is also not the fruit of calming the mind. Regarding "because it is a revealing cause": not only is the contributory cause a revealing cause, but the primary cause is also a revealing cause. Why is this? If sentient beings did not have a mind of weariness [of saṃsāra] and seeking joy, they could not produce even a single moment of goodness. Because they possess this understanding, the fruit can mature; therefore, the primary cause also distantly serves as a revealing cause for the Buddha.