大乘起信論別記 1.3

1.3

第二消文者，初歸敬偈及因緣分，文相可知。立義分中立二章門，謂法與義。法者是大乘之法體，義者是大乘之名義。初立法者，起下釋中初釋立法之文；後立義者，起下「復次真如自體相」者以下釋立義文也。初立法中亦有二立：一就體總立，起下釋中初總釋文；二約門別立，起下言「真如者」以下別釋之文。初中：

Second, interpreting the text: The initial verse of homage and the section on causes and conditions are evident from the text. In the section on establishing the meaning, two headings are established, namely, dharma and meaning. "Dharma" is the dharma-essence of the Mahāyāna; "meaning" is the nominal meaning of the Mahāyāna. First, establishing dharma initiates the subsequent explanatory text that first explains the establishment of dharma; later, establishing meaning initiates the explanatory text from "Furthermore, the self-essence and characteristics of tathatā" onward that explains the establishment of meaning. In the initial establishing of dharma, there are also two establishments: first, establishing comprehensively in terms of essence, which initiates the initial general explanation in the explanation below; second, establishing individually with respect to the gates, which initiates the text below that explains individually from "As for tathatā" onward. In the first part: