[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [大乘起信論義疏](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1843) › 2.17 # 大乘起信論義疏 2.17 大乘起信論義疏 2.17 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [2.17](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1843.2.17) 問曰：若初真一，何故起染，原薄不同？答：無始無明等同品無有麁細，智識以後染著不同，心慮異故，續識以後起成深淺，故果報優劣、上下不等、利鈍差別。然此義者，非凡所能知。 > Question: If the true is originally one, why is it that when defilement arises, its depth and shallowness differ? Answer: Beginningless ignorance is of equal grade, without coarse or subtle; from the wisdom-consciousness onward, defiled attachment differs because mental deliberations are distinct; from the continuing consciousness onward, arising and completion are deep or shallow; hence karmic retributions are superior or inferior, unequal in high and low, and differentiated as sharp or dull. However, this meaning is not something ordinary beings can know. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 2.16](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1843.2.16) - [Next: 2.18](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1843.2.18) - [Up: 2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1843.2) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1843~en-mt.2.17) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1843.2.17](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1843.2.17) · Pramāṇa