宗鏡錄 55.23

55.23

答。古釋四句料簡。一是大而非種。即虛空。周遍。故是大。非生。故非種。二是種非大。即五根等。能生。故名種。不遍。故非大。三亦種亦大。即地水等。體寬廣。故名大。與所造色為依。故名種。四非大非種。即趣寂聲聞。

Answer: Ancient commentaries analyse this through four propositions: First, that which is great but not a seed: namely, empty space. Because it is all-pervading, it is great; because it does not generate, it is not a seed. Second, that which is a seed but not great: namely, the five sense faculties, and so forth. Because they can generate, they are called seeds; because they are not all-pervading, they are not great. Third, that which is both a seed and great: namely, earth, water, and so forth. Because their substance is vast, they are called great; because they serve as the support for derivative matter, they are called seeds. Fourth, that which is neither great nor a seed: namely, śrāvakas inclined toward extinction.