大般涅槃經義記 8.341

8.341

下次廣上佛性不思，有四問答。師子初問性之一異，先為兩定。「眾生佛性為悉共有？為各各有？若共有」等，就初設難。「一得菩提一切同得」法說難也。「如二十」下，喻說難也。「佛性若」下，合喻難也。「若各各」等，就後設難。「若各各有則是無常」，以理正徵。「何以」下釋，可算數故。「然佛說」下，舉昔徵今，佛昔說性不一不二，云何各有？「若各各」下，以今徵昔，若佛今說各各別有，云何昔言諸佛平等、佛性如空？下佛答之。初先法說，「性不一二」略立其宗。「佛性如空一切共有」明不二也。佛等猶前諸佛平等，如空猶前佛性如空。「若修即見」明不一也。次以喻顯。「草名忍辱」喻前共有。「牛若食」下喻修即見。下合可知。

Next, the aforementioned inconceivability of buddha-nature is broadly treated; there are four questions and answers. Siṃhanāda first asks about the identity or difference of the nature, first proposing two alternatives: "Do sentient beings all share the buddha-nature in common, or does each possess it individually? If they share it in common..." and so forth establishes the difficulty based on the first [alternative]. "If one attains bodhi, all would attain it together" is the difficulty stated doctrinally. From "Like twenty..." downward is the difficulty stated through analogy. From "If the buddha-nature..." downward is the application of the analogy to formulate the difficulty. "If each individually..." and so forth establishes the difficulty based on the latter [alternative]. "If each possesses it individually, then it is impermanent" correctly challenges it through reason. The explanation below beginning with "Why?": because it could be counted. From "Yet the Buddha said..." downward, he cites the past to interrogate the present: the Buddha previously said that the nature is neither one nor two; how could each possess it individually? From "If each individually..." downward, he uses the present to interrogate the past: if the Buddha now says that each has it distinctly, why did he previously say that all buddhas are equal and that buddha-nature is like empty space? Below, the Buddha answers him. First is the doctrinal statement: "The nature is neither one nor two" briefly establishes his thesis. "Buddha-nature is like empty space and shared in common by all" clarifies that it is non-dual. "The equality of the buddhas" corresponds to the earlier "all buddhas are equal"; "like empty space" corresponds to the earlier "buddha-nature is like empty space." "If one cultivates, one sees it" clarifies that it is not one. Next, it is illustrated with an analogy. "The grass named Forbearance" is an analogy for the aforementioned common sharing. From "If a cow eats it..." downward is an analogy for seeing it upon cultivation. The application below can be understood.