大乘起信論義記 2.115

2.115

In the first stage: "like an ordinary person" is the person who contemplates, whose stage is in the ten faiths. "Awakens to and knows that a preceding thought has given rise to unwholesomeness" clarifies the mark that is contemplated: before entering the ten faiths, one extensively created evil karmas of body and speech without awakening or knowing; now having entered the stage of faith, one is able to know that evil karma will certainly incur the retribution of suffering, hence it says "awakens to and knows". This clarifies the meaning of awakening to the mark of cessation. "Is able to stop the subsequent thought and cause it not to arise" determines the benefit of contemplation: previously, due to non-enlightenment, one constantly gave rise to evil karmas of body and speech; now, having awakened, one is able not to create evil, stopping the mark of cessation. "Although this is also called awakening, it is just non-enlightenment" concludes the scope of contemplation: being able to know that the mark of cessation is truly not wholesome, and thus not creating evil, is called "although awakening"; yet still not knowing that the mark of cessation is a dream, it is therefore said to be "non-enlightenment". This only stops evil karma, hence it is called "although awakening"; not having awakened to defilements, it is therefore called "non-enlightenment".