宗鏡錄 19.15

19.15

Answer: Although there is seen to be earlier and later, the nature is not compromised. Though the traces are left to rise or sink, the principle is also without error. It is like having the nature of awakening within a mind in deep sleep: because the sleep is deep and one has not yet sobered up, it appears as soon as one awakens. It is like having the characteristics of an adult within the body of an infant: because strength and function are not yet sufficient, they become fully present when grown up. All sentient beings, because the dream of avidyā is not yet awakened from and the power of the path of awakening is not yet complete, then the Buddha-nature is not yet manifested and the dharmakāya is not yet perfected. How could it be that any living beings are not endowed with the tathāgatagarbha nature?