弘明集 9.35

9.35

答曰。若枯即是榮。榮即是枯。則應榮時凋零枯時結實。又榮木不應變為枯木。以榮即是枯故。枯無所復變也。又榮枯是一何不先枯後榮。要先榮後枯何耶。絲縷同時不得為喻。

Answer: If withered is flourishing and flourishing is withered, then when flourishing it should wither away, and when withered it should bear fruit. Furthermore, a flourishing tree should not transform into a withered tree, because flourishing would already be withered, and what is withered transforms no further. Moreover, if flourishing and withered are one, why not be withered first and flourish later? Why must it flourish first and wither later? Raw silk and spun thread exist at the same time, so they cannot serve as an analogy.