肇論 1.87

1.87

有名曰：非眾生無以御三乘，非三乘無以成涅槃。然必先有眾生，後有涅槃。是則涅槃有始，有始必有終。而經云：「涅槃無始無終，湛若虛空。」則涅槃先有，非復學而後成者也。

The Named said: Without sentient beings, there is no way to direct the triyāna; without the triyāna, there is no way to accomplish nirvāṇa. Thus there must first be sentient beings, and afterwards nirvāṇa. This being so, nirvāṇa has a beginning, and that which has a beginning must have an end. Yet the sūtras say: 'Nirvāṇa is without beginning and without end, clear and still like empty space.' If so, nirvāṇa has existed beforehand, and is not something accomplished after learning.