大般涅槃經集解 70.13

70.13

Sengliang states: "The non-Buddhists explain the dharma of nirvāṇa differently, claiming it is not produced from causes, and therefore challenge the Buddha: 'If it is produced from causes, it should not be permanent.'" Sengzong states: "The intent of the objection is that because the cause is impermanent, the fruition cannot be uniquely permanent." Baoliang states: "These ten non-Buddhist teachers simply accommodated those with affinities to be converted, manifesting their submission in order to demonstrate the supreme source of principle. In general, regarding the method of back-and-forth debate with non-Buddhists, one must not directly open one's chest; one must first soften their minds within phenomenal matters, and only afterwards discuss the principle. This particular non-Buddhist posits twenty-five principles (tattvas). His statement that 'nature is permanent' refers to the primordial nature (prakṛti) that he posits. From here downward is the direct refutation of the non-Buddhists."