法界圖記叢髓錄 1.58

1.58

法記云：問：何故不守自性隨緣成之，次明此句耶？答：凡緣起法二無別自性，互相以他而為自性，方能隨緣無側而起，故不守自性之次明一中一切等義也。問：若緣起法隨起無側者，唯是緣前無法之義耶？答：就緣論之，緣前無法。就性論之，緣前有法。何者？就緣論時，現於今日緣中之五尺是緣起本法無側而立，故緣以前無一法也。就性論時，本有性起法體也。

Fa's Record says: Question: Why is this line explained immediately after "not keeping to its own nature, it is formed in accordance with conditions"? Answer: In general, regarding the phenomena of pratītyasamutpāda, two things have no separate self-natures; they mutually take the other as their self-nature, and only then can they arise without boundary in accordance with conditions. Therefore, immediately after "not keeping to its own nature," the meaning of "within one is all" and so forth is explained. Question: If the phenomena of pratītyasamutpāda arise without boundary in accordance [with conditions], does this only mean that prior to conditions there are no phenomena? Answer: Discussing it in terms of conditions, prior to conditions there are no phenomena. Discussing it in terms of nature, prior to conditions there are phenomena. Why? When discussing it in terms of conditions, the five feet manifest amidst today's conditions are the fundamental phenomena of pratītyasamutpāda established without boundary; therefore, prior to conditions there is not a single phenomenon. When discussing it in terms of nature, there is the fundamentally existing essential substance of phenomena of nature manifestation.