大乘起信論義疏 1.17

1.17

Regarding "explaining according to the text": within the text there are two parts. First, a general presentation; second, from the question "For what reason..." onward, a specific presentation of the intention. Within the first part there are two: first, a general exhortation to give rise to faith; second, from "there are five parts" onward, a general division of the text's sections. As for "The treatise states": these are the words spoken when Bodhisattva Aśvaghoṣa expounded the Dharma. As for "There is a dharma": this is the dharma that is taught, namely the seventh and eighth consciousnesses. As for "can give rise": it can appropriately give rise [to it]. As for "mahāyāna": this is a foreign word. In translation into this land, mahā means "great" and yāna means "vehicle". The words "Great Vehicle" (Mahāyāna) are as explained previously. As for "root of faith": faith is the root of all practices; therefore it says one should give rise to the root of faith in the Mahāyāna. Why is that? Because faith in this dharma is faith in the Mahāyāna, which is the most supreme immediate cause for affecting [the attainment of] Buddhahood. Therefore a sūtra says: "Furthermore, there is a direct cause, which is called the mind of faith, the Śūraṅgama, and so forth." Faith is the direct cause of the saṃbhogakāya Buddha; the Śūraṅgama is also called Buddha-nature, which is the direct cause of the dharmakāya Buddha. As for "Therefore, one should...": this is a concluding summary and explanation. Next, the second part divides the text. "It is said that there are five parts": this is a general citation. "The section on reasons", and so forth, are the specific explanations. The titles of the text are self-evident.