法界圖記叢髓錄 1.43

1.43

法記云：中法為始盤迴屈曲乃至佛為終者，盤迴則直見印圓，屈曲則約諸角曲也。問：若約印道即離始終，何故約字法始佛終耶？答：若直約理則雖無始終，如其不示始終則不得入法方便故也。隨印道者，若唯約字則三乘別教；若唯約印則一乘別教；以印隨字，以字隨印則一乘同教；若具此三則一乘圓教也。以印隨字者，一乘垂於三乘。以字隨印者，三乘參於一乘。上參下垂並同教。

Fa's Record says: Regarding "With the dharma at the center as the beginning, winding and turning, up to buddha as the end"—"winding" refers directly to seeing the roundness of the seal, while "turning" refers to the various corners and bends. Question: If in terms of the path of the seal, it transcends beginning and end, why in terms of the characters is dharma the beginning and buddha the end? Answer: While in direct terms of principle there is indeed neither beginning nor end, if beginning and end are not indicated, there would be no upāya to enter the Dharma. Regarding "following the path of the seal": if considered solely in terms of the characters, it is the distinct teaching of the three vehicles; if considered solely in terms of the seal, it is the distinct teaching of the One Vehicle; having the seal follow the characters and having the characters follow the seal is the shared teaching of the One Vehicle; and if possessing all three, it is the perfect teaching of the One Vehicle. "Having the seal follow the characters" means the One Vehicle descending to the three vehicles. "Having the characters follow the seal" means the three vehicles participating in the One Vehicle. Upward participation and downward descent are both the shared teaching.