宗鏡錄 6.22

6.22

Answer: They are the fundamental nature of citta, not merely transformed by citta. The Avataṃsakasūtra says: 'Knowing that all phenomena are the self-nature of citta, one accomplishes the body of wisdom without awakening through another.' A verse in the Lotus Sūtra says: 'Within the three-thousand-fold world, / all the multitudes of living beings— / gods, humans, asuras, / hell-beings, ghosts, and animals— / such forms and appearances as these / all appear within the body.' From this we know that the nature of citta pervades all places. Therefore, the four modes of birth and the nine categories all appear within the body of self-nature. Because one's own true citta is the nature of all the myriad existences, accordingly becoming matter and space, it completely pervades the dharmadhātu, manifesting in accordance with karma, with different retributions. Residing in ordinary beings, it floats and sinks in the sea of karma, with birth and death continuing unbroken; present in the sages, the dharmakāya is consummate and wondrous functions are inexhaustible. Although concealment and manifestation differ, the one nature does not move.