大乘起信論義記 2.135

2.135

Although one newly attains the awakening of thoughtlessness, nevertheless the four marks that are awakened to originally never arose; depending on what non-enlightenment could there be the difference of an incipient enlightenment? From 'because the four marks [exist] simultaneously' onward, it explains and establishes the above meaning. Because those four marks are formed by the One Mind, linked like a chain in continuous succession without before or after, apart from the pure mind they have no separate intrinsic nature. Having no intrinsic nature, they are originally equal and identical to the one innate enlightenment. However, before reaching this rank, according to their intellectual power, [practitioners] awaken before or after; since they do not accord with the Dharma, they cannot be identical with the innate. Now, since the four marks are simultaneously equal, and one awakens to know that none of them has an intrinsic nature and all are identical with the one innate enlightenment, for this reason there is no difference of incipient enlightenment.