大乘起信論義記 1.20

1.20

Question: The meaning I stated accords with this sūtra text. How so? If all sentient beings possess the nature and are all to attain liberation, then sentient beings would decrease. Now we posit that there are these sentient beings of no gotra who remain forever in the world; therefore, there is neither increase nor decrease. Answer: If so, since you give rise to a view of decrease regarding those with the nature, you must then give rise to a view of increase regarding the realm of the Buddha; these views of increase and decrease do not depart from your attachment. You should know that the sūtra's intention explains that all sentient beings attain Buddhahood at the same time, yet the Buddha-realm does not increase and the realm of sentient beings does not decrease. Therefore that sūtra states: 'Sentient beings are precisely the dharmakāya; the dharmakāya is precisely sentient beings. Sentient beings and the dharmakāya are one in meaning and different only in name.' Explanation: To illustrate, the realm of sentient beings is like the realm of empty space. Suppose a bird flies in empty space from west to east for hundreds or thousands of years; one can never say that the east is near and the west is far. Why is this? Because empty space has no boundaries. Nor can one say that it has not flown at all, because the effort is not in vain. One should know that the principle here is also like this: it is not that there being extinction causes an ultimate exhaustion, nor is it that there being no ultimate exhaustion means there are those who are not extinguished. Therefore, the realm of sentient beings is profound and vast; it is an object known only by the Tathāgata's knowledge, and one cannot rashly measure and deliberate with a deranged mind to give rise to views of increase and decrease. Since it is inexhaustible, none of the three objections cannot be dispelled.