華嚴一乘教義分齊章 4.61

4.61

Third, the identical characteristic: the various conditions, such as the rafters, unite harmoniously to make the house without conflicting with one another; they are all termed conditions for the house and do not make other things, hence it is called the identical characteristic. Question: "What is the distinction between this and the universal characteristic?" Answer: "The universal characteristic is spoken of solely with reference to the single house. Now, this identical characteristic is concerned with the various conditions such as the rafters: although their individual substances are each distinct, the meaning of their capacity to establish [the house] is equal, hence it is called the identical characteristic." Question: "If they were not identical, what flaw would there be?" Answer: "If they were not identical, there would be the flaws of annihilationism and eternalism. Why? If they were not identical, the various functions of rafters and the like would conflict with one another and would not unite to make the house, so the house could not exist—hence this is annihilationism. If, while conflicting and not making the house, one clings to the house's existence, a house would exist without a cause—hence this is eternalism."