成唯識論了義燈 3.73

3.73

The Treatise says: 'Co-arising and co-ceasing, the meaning of perfuming is established.' In Asvabhāva's commentary, the seeds in the consciousness are also called perfuming (vāsanā). Asanga's basic treatise says: 'Furthermore, what is called perfuming? What is the signified of the signifier 'perfuming'? It is said to be based on that dharma, co-arising and co-ceasing.' This explains the substance of perfuming. 'Therein exists the nature of a cause capable of producing that: this is called the signified.' This explains the meaning of perfuming. Since it says 'therein exists the nature of a cause capable of producing that: this is called the signified', it clearly shows that seeds are called perfuming. Adducing a simile, it further says: 'Just as in sesamum there is the perfuming of flowers... up to saying that these sesamum seeds arise bearing the cause capable of producing that fragrance.' Asvabhāva explains the word 'based on' (依), saying: 'Just as saying based on clouds there is rain, and so forth.' Adducing its causal nature is to reveal that therein exists the causal substance capable of according with the production of the fruit. This means that based on clouds there is rain uses the cause having a fruit as a simile: clouds symbolize the cause, and rain symbolizes the fruit; that is, the seeds in the fundamental consciousness are like clouds, which is also the same as Asanga's explanation of the cloud simile in his Prajñā[-pāramitā-upadeśa]. Therefore, we know that perfuming does not refer to the perfumer alone; in reality, both the perfumer and the perfumed are called perfuming.