宗鏡錄 61.33

61.33

Answer: They are neither one nor different. Considered in terms of reality, they are identical in Suchness (tathatā); therefore they are not different. Considered in terms of phenomena, there are capacity and response; therefore they are not one. For example, father and son are connected by their inborn nature, being of the same flesh and blood; to consider them different is inadmissible. If they were identical, the father would be the son and the son would be the father; identity is also inadmissible. It is only as neither one nor different that father and son are spoken of. The principle-nature of sentient beings is not distinct from that of the Buddha; therefore they are not different. Yet sentient beings are concealed while the Tathāgata is manifest; therefore they are not one. It is as neither one nor different that capacity and response are spoken of. Furthermore, being identical, neither is phenomenon nor principle; thus they are not different. Sentient beings attain phenomena while sages attain principle; and sages attain phenomena while ordinary beings have principle; therefore they are spoken of as different.