維摩經略疏 4.9

4.9

Question: The Buddha is the compassionate father of sentient beings, and all sentient beings are the Buddha's children; hence the Lotus Sūtra says, 'Now this triple world is entirely mine, and the sentient beings within it are all my children.' How could [the term] be established following the Master (Confucius)? Answer: The sūtras have two meanings: there is establishing names based on principle, and there is designating terms in accordance with worldly conventions. As the Lotus Sūtra says, 'When I was the crown prince, Rāhula was my eldest son; now that I have accomplished the Buddha Way and receive the Dharma, he is a Dharma-son.' This is in terms of principle: both mundane and supramundane are father and son. If in accordance with worldly conventions, it is just as the Master (Confucius said). Tracing and propagating the doctrinal gateways, one accords with worldly conventions without dispute, yet in mind does not transgress the true Dharma; hence there is no fault in explaining the name based on an external meaning.