[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [大乘起信論義記別記](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1847) › 1.42 # 大乘起信論義記別記 1.42 大乘起信論義記別記 1.42 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [1.42](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1847.1.42) 問：若本覺能滅惑者，何用始覺為？答：以惑有二義故：一、理無義；二、情有義。由對初義，故名本覺；由對後義，故名始覺。故《佛性論》云「煩惱有二種滅，一、自性滅，二、對治滅。」對此二滅，故有始本二覺。又此始覺亦是本覺之用也。何者？以依本覺故有不覺，有不覺故有始覺；是故始覺即是本覺，更無異體，唯一本覺滅煩惱也。始本相對，各有二義：本中，一是有力義，以能成始故；二是無力義，對始名本故。始中，一是有力義，以能顯本故；二是無力義，為本所成故。 > Question: If original enlightenment can eradicate delusion, what is the use of initial enlightenment? Answer: Because delusion has two meanings: first, the meaning of being non-existent in principle; second, the meaning of being existent in emotional attachment. In contrast to the first meaning, it is called original enlightenment; in contrast to the latter meaning, it is called initial enlightenment. Hence the \*Fo xing lun\* says: 'Afflictions have two kinds of cessation: first, cessation by self-nature; second, cessation through antidotes.' In contrast to these two cessations, there are the two enlightenments of initial and original. Furthermore, this initial enlightenment is also the function of original enlightenment. How so? Because depending on original enlightenment there is non-enlightenment, and because there is non-enlightenment there is initial enlightenment; therefore, initial enlightenment is itself original enlightenment, with no distinct essence, only the single original enlightenment eradicating afflictions. In the mutual relation of initial and original, each has two meanings: within the original, the first is the meaning of being potent, because it can accomplish the initial; the second is the meaning of being impotent, because it is named 'original' in contrast to the initial. Within the initial, the first is the meaning of being potent, because it can reveal the original; the second is the meaning of being impotent, because it is accomplished by the original. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 1.41](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1847.1.41) - [Next: 1.43](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1847.1.43) - [Up: 1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1847.1) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1847~en-mt.1.42) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1847.1.42](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1847.1.42) · Pramāṇa