Diamond Scalpel, The ［金剛錍・金剛錍論］ (Chin Chin-kang-pei;  Kongōbei or Kongōbei-ron): A work by Miao-lo (711–782) designed to clarify the supremacy of T’ien-t’ai’s teaching and restore the T’ien-t’ai school by refuting the doctrines of the Flower Garland (Hua-yen), Dharma Characteristics (Fa-hsiang), and Zen (Ch’an) schools that prospered after T’ien-t’ai. The title derives from a passage in the “Nature of the Thus Come One” chapter of the Chinese version of the Mahāparinirvāna Sutra, and symbolizes the power to remove the delusions of living beings. In this treatise, in question-and-answer form, Miao-lo upholds the doctrine of the Buddha nature inherent in insentient beings, denying the Flower Garland position that insentient things do not possess the Buddha nature. This work reads: “A plant, a tree, a pebble, a speck of dust—each has the Buddha nature, and each is endowed with cause and effect and with the function to manifest and the wisdom to realize its Buddha nature.” It also rejects the Dharma Characteristics doctrine that certain categories of people are by nature forever incapable of attaining Buddhahood and reiterates the teaching of the Lotus Sutra that Buddhahood is accessible to all.