大乘起信論別記 1.98

1.98

As for the statement "Relying on the objective realm, the mind arises," it means that relying on the former characteristic of the objective realm, the mind of the seventh consciousness arises. If in the wholesome destinies, it discriminates desirable dharmas as 'I' and 'mine'; when in the evil destinies, it discriminates undesirable dharmas as 'I' and 'mine'; therefore, it says that it discriminates the desirable and the undesirable. To speak fully, it grasps the characteristic of the perceiver as 'I' and grasps the manifested realm as 'mine'; yet now, speaking directly in terms of what is manifest, it merely says that it relies on the objective realm. Furthermore, although this seventh consciousness also generally takes as objects both the perceiver and the characteristic of the objective realm of the ālayavijñāna, this objective realm is nevertheless not separate from the perceiver, just as an image in a mirror is not separate from the mirror's surface. This seventh consciousness merely turns inward and itself conceives of 'I' and 'mine', not conceiving of them as external; therefore, other places speak of it taking the ālayavijñāna as its object, without mentioning that it takes the objective realm as its object. Moreover, because it is an abbreviated explanation, it is spoken of as taking consciousness as its object solely with respect to the object of grasping at self. Omitting the object of grasping at what belongs to self, it does not state that it also takes the objective realm as its object.