瑜伽師地論略纂 13.8

13.8

The treatise states: "All seeds are like a rushing torrent." This line presents the profound and subtle nature of the eighth consciousness as the reason it was not taught; that is, the first reason: because it is deep and subtle, it was not taught. When water has not been struck by the wind, it is called a calm flow; only when it meets the wind and waves do surging waves arise. This consciousness is also like this: when the wind of the active perfuming has not stirred, it flows calmly thought-moment after thought-moment; when the wind of the active perfuming stirs, it forms seeds and immediately resembles waves. Or, seeds producing actualities are like waves: the cause of one wave arrives and one wave is born; the causes of many waves arrive and many waves arise. Question: The earlier translation rendered it "seeds are like an enduring flow (gaṅgodaka/constant stream)"; how does it differ now? Although it said "seeds," one did not know what they were, and the wording was feared to be restrictive; now saying "all," the meaning is comprehensive. Furthermore, as for the expression "enduring flow," what meaning is this? If it means flowing like the Gaṅgā River, that is incorrect. If it means flowing constantly, how could this refer to the meaning of perfuming as a cause? Now saying "rushing torrent," the meaning lies precisely here.