華嚴經明法品內立三寶章 2.40

2.40

Question: Are the defilement of sentient beings and the purity of the Three Jewels both delusional, or are they also not delusional? Answer: Each of these two has four propositions. Sentient beings are delusional because they are falsely conceptualized to exist; sentient beings are not delusional because they constitute vessels of the Dharma. These two are in terms of function. Sentient beings are delusional by virtue of the preceding two propositions; sentient beings are not delusional because delusion is identical to emptiness and the nature of tathatā is fully complete. The Three Jewels are delusional because they are grasped as existent by delusional conceptualization, as a sūtra states: 'Sentient beings forcibly conceptualize, making a Buddha to deliver sentient beings,' and another sūtra states: 'If one understands the real, there is no Buddha and no bodhi,' and so on. Second, the Three Jewels are not delusional because they are able to remedy delusion, as a sūtra states: 'Because they can be severed by the wisdom of Buddha-bodhi.' Third, the Three Jewels are delusional because they are established by virtue of remedying delusion—for when there is no delusion, there is no truth—as a treatise states: 'It is merely according to what sentient beings see and hear to obtain benefit' that it is spoken of as function. Fourth, the Three Jewels are not delusional because their entire essence is truth and they are perpetually of a single characteristic, as a sūtra states: 'Because the Three Jewels are of a single taste.'