維摩義記 3.36

3.36

Question: If there is no person and dharmas also do not exist, for whose sake does one expound [it]? Explanation: If considered in terms of the bodhisattva's own contemplation seeing the equality of dharmas, there is truly neither one who can be benevolent nor an object of benevolence; the Buddha is also like this. Hence the sūtra says: "In the equal, true dharmadhātu, the Buddha does not deliver sentient beings." Looking toward the noble from the standpoint of the ordinary: outside of the ordinary there are the noble; upon hearing the noble expound the meaning of emptiness and selflessness, [ordinary beings] are then able to abandon existence and verify entry into it; therefore, one can expound that the bodhisattva practices benevolence, and the Buddha is also like this. Hence the sūtra says: "Sentient beings make strong discriminations, saying that the Buddha delivers sentient beings." Within this approach there are still many meanings, as detailed in a separate section.