宗鏡錄 80.11

80.11

答。如來藏者。是真識心。是真心中。具有一切恒沙佛法。如妄心中。具有恒沙染法。是心與法。同一體性。故名如來藏。即一切眾生有如來藏。能為佛因。名有佛性。如睡心中有覺悟性。如黃石中有金性。白石中有銀性。如是一切世間法中。皆有涅槃性。此性即是眾生自實。故名為我。我即佛性。隱則名為如來藏。顯則名為法身。

Answer: The tathāgatagarbha is the true conscious mind. Within this true mind, all Buddha-dharmas, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, are fully present, just as within the deluded mind, defiled dharmas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges are fully present. This mind and the dharmas are of the same essence and nature; therefore, it is called the tathāgatagarbha. Because all sentient beings possess the tathāgatagarbha, which is capable of serving as the cause of Buddhahood, they are said to possess the Buddha-nature. Just as within the sleeping mind there is the nature of awakening, within yellow stone there is the nature of gold, and within white stone there is the nature of silver, likewise within all worldly dharmas there is the nature of nirvāṇa. This nature is the very reality of sentient beings themselves; therefore, it is named the 'Self'. The Self is none other than the Buddha-nature. When concealed, it is called the tathāgatagarbha; when revealed, it is called the dharmakāya.