大乘起信論義記 1.5

1.5

First, 'relying on what cognition' refers to relying on the treatise master's cognition that deeply tallies with the source of the mind, and his skillful eloquence that accords with capacities. The *Daśabhūmikaśāstra* states: 'There are three kinds of praised eloquence: first, real cognition, which refers to undefiled cognition; second, the accomplishment of its essential nature, which is eloquence in immeasurable meanings; third, the accomplishment of the meaning of the resulting words, which is furthermore the accomplishment of fluent, excellent words and meanings.' The explanation says: here the first takes fundamental cognition as the reliance; the second takes subsequently attained cognition as the cause; and the third takes the spoken teaching as the result. Therefore, the emergence of the teaching relies internally on cognition. Second, 'indicating what Dharma' refers to the dharmas of the One Mind, two gates, three greatnesses, four kinds of faith, five practices, and so forth. These are the dharmas of awakening faith within the Mahāyāna; this is what is indicated. Third, 'how does it indicate it' means that by skillful means, he opens the single-flavor Mahāyāna into two kinds—dharma and meaning; divides the dharma of the One Mind into two gates; and analyzes the single meaning-principle into the three greatnesses. It is through this skillfulness that he is able to reveal them.