大乘起信論義疏 1.21

1.21

自下廣釋，此中有三：初釋緣勝，所為亦勝；中釋衰事；後釋當機。言「佛在世時」者，表其時勝。「眾生利根」者，所為之勝。「能說之人」以下，表所寄勝。「色心業勝」者，色者是其三十二相，是身業也；心者是其大悲大慈，是意業也；言業勝者以因題果，以業勝故，所感果勝。言「圓音一演異類等解」者，是口業也。如來一音大小並陳，隨機等解，不差機說，此則佛為不虛說法。《華嚴》云「如來一音演說法，眾生隨力各得解」也。三業皆勝，故言緣勝。言「則不須論」者，結釋利根。以鈍根故，造論解經，乃得悟解。以利根故，佛說則解，故不須論也。

Next is the extensive explanation. Here there are three: first, explaining the superiority of the condition and the superiority of those for whom it was made; middle, explaining the decline; last, explaining those suited to the teaching. As for "When the Buddha was in the world": this indicates the superiority of the time. "Sentient beings had sharp faculties": this is the superiority of those for whom it was made. From "the person capable of expounding" onward: this presents the superiority of the one relied upon. As for "the activities of form and mind were superior": form is the thirty-two marks, which is physical activity; mind is great compassion and great loving-kindness, which is mental activity. As for the activities being superior: the fruit is designated by the cause; because the activities are superior, the fruit elicited is superior. As for "with a single proclamation of the complete voice, different types understood equally": this is verbal activity. The Tathāgata with a single voice presents both the great and the small simultaneously; according with their capacities they understand equally, and the preaching does not miss their capacities; thus the Buddha does not expound the Dharma in vain. The Avataṃsaka Sūtra says: "The Tathāgata with a single voice proclaims the Dharma, and sentient beings understand each according to their capacity." All three activities are superior, hence it says the condition is superior. As for "then there was no need for treatises": this concludes the explanation of sharp faculties. Because of dull faculties, one composes treatises to explain the sūtras and only then attains awakening and understanding. Because of sharp faculties, they understood as soon as the Buddha spoke, so there was no need for treatises.