淨名玄論 8.5

8.5

問：前云眾生之類是菩薩佛土，後云直心是菩薩佛土，未詳二是之言意何所在？請為釋之。答：《華嚴經》云「佛子！有世界微塵數等因緣所成」。今明此經要略但明取土，有其二義：一者取土之緣、二取土之因。前明取土之緣。由有眾生故菩薩取土，以緣中說果，故云眾生之類是菩薩佛土。後明取土因。雖由眾生，而菩薩起須取土之因，以因中說果，故云直心是菩薩佛土。故兩是有因緣不同。

Question: Earlier it was said, 'The categories of sentient beings are the bodhisattva's buddha land,' and later it was said, 'The straight mind is the bodhisattva's buddha land.' It is not yet clear where the intent of these two statements of 'is' lies; please explain it. Answer: The Avataṃsaka Sūtra says: 'Sons of the Buddha! It is accomplished through causes and conditions as numerous as the dust motes of a world.' Now, to explain: this sūtra essentially only explains taking a land, which has two meanings: first, the conditions for taking the land; second, the causes for taking the land. The former explains the conditions for taking the land. Because there are sentient beings, the bodhisattva takes the land; speaking of the fruition in terms of the conditions, it is therefore said that 'the categories of sentient beings are the bodhisattva's buddha land.' The latter explains the causes for taking the land. Although it is due to sentient beings, the bodhisattva must generate the causes for taking the land; speaking of the fruition in terms of the causes, it is therefore said that 'the straight mind is the bodhisattva's buddha land.' Therefore, the two statements of 'is' differ according to cause and condition.