大乘起信論別記 1.166

1.166

Question: The Mahāyānasaṃgraha says: "Only when possessing four characteristics can something receive perfuming; therefore, permanent dharmas cannot receive perfuming." Why does it say here that avidyā perfumes tathatā? Answer: That treatise provisionally considers conceivable perfuming; therefore it says that permanent dharmas cannot receive perfuming. This treatise relies on inconceivable perfuming; therefore it says that avidyā perfumes tathatā, and tathatā perfumes avidyā. Because these two kinds of perfuming differ in meaning, the two treatises do not contradict each other.