維摩經略疏 8.38

8.38

Question: If the non-abiding is beginningless ignorance, why is it named "beginningless"? Answer: Defilements such as the view of individuality all arise in dependence on something, and what arises has a beginning. This [ignorance] has nothing on which to rely, and its arising likewise has no beginning; hence it is called beginningless ignorance, which is the non-abiding. There are two explanations of this: it is called both non-abiding and having an abiding, and it is called both baseless and having a basis. Why is this? If we examine the basis of the five entrenchments, the preceding [four], beginning with the view of individuality, all take afflictions as their basis, and therefore they have a beginning and have an abiding. Now, outside of ignorance, there is no further affliction that serves as the basis for ignorance; hence it is said to have no basis. Having no basis, it is therefore beginningless and non-abiding. Hence it is said, "The non-abiding has no basis."