維摩義記 3.62

3.62

Question: Birth-and-death, afflictions, karmas, and the like oppose and obstruct the Buddha Path; why are they spoken of as the seed of the Tathāgata? Generally, there are three explanations: First, through dependent origination, the Buddha-nature integrates to form the unwholesome five skandhas of ordinary beings; the essential nature of these unwholesome skandhas is the true mind, which can serve as the direct-cause seed for the Tathāgata, hence called the Tathāgata-seed. Therefore the Nirvāṇa [Sūtra] says, "The fetters of ignorance and the like are all Buddha-nature"; "nature" is like "seed." Second, unwholesome sentient beings are able to feel revulsion toward birth-and-death and seek the Buddha Path above; therefore, all evil and unwholesome dharmas are called the seed of the Tathāgata. Therefore the Bodhisattvabhūmi says, "Because there are afflictions, one delights in seeking pure dharmas, which is called 'possessing the cause'"; "cause" is like "seed." Third, one who has afflictions can practice on what is not the Path to gather in sentient beings; by this, one can initiate practice that penetrates the Buddha Path, hence it is called the Tathāgata-seed. What is discussed here falls under the latter two meanings.