大般涅槃經義記 9.114

9.114

自下第四廣明眾生不有不無。初明不無，「以當得故若我說色是佛性」下彰其不有，陰非性故。前中，初別、後總結之。別中八門：一說我為性、二說四無量以為佛性、三說信為性、四說極愛一子為性、五說第四根力為性、六說十二因緣為性。「佛性名為十二因緣」略以標舉，義如上解。「何以」下釋，「以因緣故如來常」者，如來窮證十二緣體故得為常，證成佛常故名佛性。「一切生」下，明諸眾生定有如是因緣實性，名有佛性。此說因緣，濫同生死十二緣相，故下辨異。此十二緣即是佛性，性即如來。第七宣說四無礙智以為佛性。第八宣說頂三昧門以為佛性。

From here below, the fourth [part] broadly explains that sentient beings are neither existent nor non-existent. First it explains that they are not non-existent; from "because it will be attained; if I say that form is the buddha-nature" below, it demonstrates that it is not existent, because the aggregates are not the nature. In the first part, it first treats them individually and later concludes collectively. Within the individual treatments there are eight gates: 1. speaking of the self as the nature; 2. speaking of the four immeasurables as the buddha-nature; 3. speaking of faith as the nature; 4. speaking of extreme love for an only child as the nature; 5. speaking of the fourth faculty and power as the nature; 6. speaking of the twelve links of dependent origination as the nature. "The buddha-nature is called the twelve links of dependent origination" is a brief indication, the meaning of which is as explained above. From "why" below is the explanation: "Because of causes and conditions, the Tathāgata is eternal" means that the Tathāgata has fully realized the essence of the twelve links, and therefore is eternal; because this realizes and accomplishes the Buddha's eternity, it is called the buddha-nature. From "all beings" below explains that sentient beings definitely possess such a real nature of causes and conditions, which is called having the buddha-nature. This discussion of causes and conditions might be confused with the characteristics of the twelve links of saṃsāra, so the difference is distinguished below. These twelve links are themselves the buddha-nature, and the nature is just the Tathāgata. The seventh preaches the four unobstructed knowledges as the buddha-nature. The eighth preaches the crown samādhi gate as the buddha-nature.