華嚴一乘教義分齊章 2.18

2.18

Question: "In the previous initial teaching, it was definitively stated that there are sentient beings lacking gotra. In this final teaching, all without exception possess the nature. How are these reconciled?" Answer: "The treatises also provide their own explanation. Thus the second fascicle of the Foxing lun says: 'For what reason do other sūtras say that icchantika sentient beings definitively lack the nature of parinirvāṇa? If so, the two sūtras directly contradict each other. How can the two explanations be reconciled? One is definitive and one is non-definitive; therefore they do not contradict each other.' Explanation: In the Hīnayāna, only the single person of the Buddha possesses Buddha-nature, and all other persons are not spoken of as possessing it. In the initial teaching of the Three Vehicles, because it gradually diverges from the Hīnayāna, it says that many persons possess it, but has not yet completely diverged from it; hence it grants that one portion lacks the gotra. Therefore, in the treatises, this is judged to be an expedient and non-definitive teaching."