宗鏡錄 83.11

83.11

Answer: This refers to innate enlightenment as tathatā within the gate of arising and ceasing; hence it possesses the sense of perfuming. Within the gate of tathatā, however, this sense does not exist. Because this innate enlightenment internally perfumes unenlightenment, it causes one to develop aversion [to saṃsāra] and seek [liberation], reversing the flow to accord with truth; therefore it is called 'function'. The Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra states: 'Through the power of future buddha-nature, an icchantika still gives rise to roots of goodness.' The 'power of buddha-nature' is precisely the power of innate enlightenment's internal perfuming completing its pure function. Extending to the eight aspects of attaining the Way and the stages and practices of the ten grounds, all are subsumed under the gate of conventional truth.