起信論疏筆削記 3.15

3.15

Section four contains three parts: first, a general explanation of those who are addressed. The words from 'All' onward consider this in terms of ultimate realization, discussing both secondary and primary together, so all are addressed. Thus the *Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra* states: 'All who possess mind are destined to become Buddhas.' The *Yuanjue jing* states: 'Those with nature and those without nature equally attain the Buddha Path.' It also states: 'Just as the great ocean does not turn away small streams, down to mosquitoes, gnats, and asuras who drink its water, all are fully satisfied.' The *Vajracchedikā-sūtra* states that those who generate the bodhi-mind are told to liberate the four modes of birth and nine classes of beings, leading them all into nirvāṇa without remainder. If there were definitively those who do not become Buddhas, why labor to generate this mind? Because all sentient beings fundamentally possess Buddha-nature, as long as they hear this, there are none who do not gain benefit: those whose past capacities are deep awaken and enter; those whose capacities are shallow gain faith and understanding; and even those entirely lacking past seeds are perfumed to form complete and sudden seeds. This is like the diamond ingestion simile in the *Avataṃsaka-sūtra*. The words from 'Different from' onward set aside the provisional teachings. They state that the two vehicles of fixed nature are fixed in nature without alteration, and moreover, once they reach the stage without remainder, body and wisdom are both extinguished—who is left to practice? Those without nature lack wholesome seeds; since wholesome seeds are absent, upon what could they rely to cultivate and advance? Judging by this, neither of them is addressed. However, those [teachings] only speak in terms of the immediate present and a long duration, and therefore do not embrace them comprehensively; this too was reserved to be explained in the Real Teaching.