大乘起信論別記 1.20

1.20

問：若此二門，各攝理事，何故真如門中但示摩訶衍體，生滅門中通示自體相用？答：攝義示義異。何者？真如門是泯相以顯理，泯相不除故，得攝相；泯相不存故，非示相。生滅門者，攬理以成事，攬理不壞得攝理，攬理不泯故，亦示體。依此義故，且說不同，通而論之，二義亦齊，是故真如門中，亦應示於事相，略故不說耳。

Question: If these two gates each subsume principle and phenomena, why is it that in the gate of tathatā only the essence of the Mahāyāna is shown, while in the gate of arising and ceasing the essence, characteristics, and function are all universally shown? Answer: The meaning of subsuming and the meaning of showing are different. Why is this? The gate of tathatā obliterates characteristics to reveal principle; because obliterating characteristics does not eliminate them, it can subsume characteristics; because obliterating characteristics does not preserve them, it does not show characteristics. The gate of arising and ceasing gathers principle to form phenomena; because gathering principle does not destroy it, it can subsume principle; because gathering principle does not obliterate it, it also shows essence. Based on this meaning, they are tentatively said to be different. Discussing them universally, the two meanings are also equal; therefore, in the gate of tathatā phenomenal characteristics should also be shown, but they are not mentioned merely for brevity.