起信論疏筆削記 1.27

1.27

非，無也，不也。然生滅與不生滅，須約三性分別。且約三性自相說者，謂遍計妄法，一向生滅；圓成實性，一向不生滅；依他假法，相同遍計似生似滅，性是圓成不生不滅。若稱實言之，則三性皆無生滅。雖然，且無義不同。何則？謂遍計即無法可生、無法可滅，如繩上蛇。依他乃即生無生、即滅無滅，如麻上繩。圓成即中，無前二生滅之法，如麻上無繩無蛇。《唯識頌》云：初即相無性，次無自然性，後由遠離前，所執我法性。圓成實性即是真如，故云非生滅也。然此但明圓成當體不生不滅，亦不和會泯於生滅之法。故《圓覺》云：如來寂滅性，未曾有始終。故下文云：所謂心性不生不滅。又云：非前際生，非後際滅，畢竟恒常等。此即顯真心不變也。

'Fei' means absence, or not. However, arising and ceasing versus non-arising and non-ceasing must be distinguished in terms of the three natures. If speaking tentatively in terms of the self-marks of the three natures: false parikalpita dharmas are exclusively arising and ceasing; the pariniṣpanna nature is exclusively non-arising and non-ceasing; the nominal dharmas of paratantra, identical in marks to parikalpita, seem to arise and seem to cease, but their nature is pariniṣpanna, non-arising and non-ceasing. If spoken of according to reality, then all three natures are free from arising and ceasing. Nevertheless, their meanings of non-existence are not the same. Why? Parikalpita is without any dharma that can arise and without any dharma that can cease, like the snake on the rope. Paratantra is unproduced in the very arising, and unceasing in the very ceasing, like the rope on the hemp. Pariniṣpanna is the core within, free from the previous two dharmas of arising and ceasing, like the absence of both rope and snake on the hemp. The *Triṃśikā* verse says: 'The first is the naturelessness of marks; the second is the naturelessness of spontaneous arising; the last is due to being far removed from the previously grasped nature of self and dharmas.' The pariniṣpanna nature is precisely tathatā; therefore it is said to be 'not arising and ceasing'. However, this merely clarifies that pariniṣpanna is in its own essence unproduced and unceasing, without harmonizing or obliterating the dharmas of arising and ceasing. Therefore the *Yuanjue jing* says: 'The serene and ceased nature of the Tathāgata has never had a beginning or an end.' Thus the text below says: 'Namely, that the mind-nature is unproduced and unceasing.' It also says: 'Not produced at the prior boundary, not ceased at the posterior boundary, ultimately eternal, etc.' This reveals the unchanging nature of the true mind.