大乘起信論義記 3.97

3.97

In the first part, saying 'relying on tathatā there is avidyā': this adduces the substance of the phenomena that can perfume and that are perfumed. Alternatively, here it only adduces avidyā that can perfume, but since it must rely on the true, it adduces it in terms of the basis. 'Because there is avidyā... up to... perfumes tathatā': this refers to the meaning of fundamental avidyā perfuming. 'Because of perfuming, there is the false mind': relying on avidyā perfuming and stirring tathatā, there is the mind of the karmic consciousness. Because this false mind conversely assists and perfumes avidyā, increasing its non-understanding, it causes it to turn into the evolving consciousness and manifesting consciousness; therefore it says 'non-enlightened thoughts arise and manifest false perceptual objects'. Because these perceptual objects conversely perfume and stir the ocean of the mind, giving rise to various waves of consciousness, contemplating those objects, it gives rise to empirical consciousness. Among the six coarse marks above, the first two are called 'thought', the middle two are called 'attaching', and the latter two correspond to this. That is, relying on afflictions one creates karma, and relying on karma one undergoes painful retributions.