大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 68.26

68.26

Regarding the commentary's statement, "Therefore the Awakening of Faith says: It is only the characteristics of mind that cease, not the essence of mind that ceases": in the treatise there is a question: If the mind ceases, how can there be continuity? If there is continuity, how can one speak of ultimate cessation? The answer states: That which is called cessation means only that the characteristics of the mind cease, not that the essence of the mind ceases. Just as wind, relying upon water, has the characteristic of movement: if the water ceases, then the characteristic of the wind is severed and has nothing upon which to rely. Because the water does not cease, the characteristic of the wind continues; only because the wind ceases does the movement cease accordingly, not that the water ceases. Ignorance (avidyā) is also like this: relying on the essence of the mind, it moves. If the essence of the mind ceased, then sentient beings would be severed and have nothing upon which to rely. Because the essence does not cease, the mind attains continuity. Only because delusion ceases do the characteristics of the mind cease accordingly, not that the essence of the mind ceases. Explanation: The present text can be understood from this. The *Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra* also says: "If the essence of the mind were to cease, then the fundamental consciousness would cease; and if the fundamental consciousness ceased, that would be no different from the annihilationist prapañca of non-Buddhists."