大乘起信論義記 2.18

2.18

問：前既泯相，相不存故，但示於體；亦可攬理，理不存故，應但示相用？答：不例也。何者？生滅起必賴於真，故攬理理不失；真如未必藉生滅，故泯相不存。泯相不存故唯示於體，理不失故具示於三，是故攝義是齊，示義別也。

Question: Previously, since marks were eliminated and marks do not remain, it only revealed the essence; might it also be that when principle is gathered and principle does not remain, it should only reveal marks and function? Answer: They are not analogous. Why is this? The arising of arising and ceasing necessarily relies on the true; hence when gathering the principle, the principle is not lost. Tathatā does not necessarily rely on arising and ceasing; hence when marks are eliminated, they do not remain. Because eliminating marks leaves them not remaining, it only reveals the essence; because the principle is not lost, it fully reveals the three. Therefore, while their meaning of subsumption is equal, their meaning of revelation is distinct.