起信論疏筆削記 1.56

1.56

既文下，二、略論，三：今初、出所以也。既者，已也，即印前之詞。文多謂《甘蔗論》六百卷，或云一百卷，此方無本，難定是非。邈，遠也。文句既多，義又深遠，後代雖有圓頓根性，心力劣者，於此文義廣博之論不能備覽，非謂一向權小之機名為淺識，以此略論正為大乘頓根令悟入故。故下文云：自有眾生，復以廣論文多為煩，心樂總持少文而攝多義，能取解者。又云：為欲解釋如來根本之義，令諸眾生正解不謬故。為令善根成熟眾生，於摩訶衍法堪任不退信故等。斯則正為大乘信解位人而作因緣。反知，於此廣中但無心力，名為淺識。

"Since the text [is voluminous]" and so forth is the second [part]: the abridged treatise. It has three [parts]. This first one reveals the reason. "Since" (既) means "already" (已), a term confirming what came before. "The text is voluminous" refers to the *Sugar Cane Treatise* being six hundred fascicles, or as some say, one hundred fascicles; as there is no copy here in this land, it is difficult to determine which is correct. "Miao" (邈) means remote. When the text and sentences are already numerous and the meanings are moreover profound and remote, then even though later generations might have faculties of the complete and sudden [teachings], those whose mental strength is inferior cannot fully peruse such an extensive and comprehensive treatise. This does not mean that only those of the provisional and Hinayāna capacities are called "those of shallow discernment"; it is because this abridged treatise is composed precisely for those of sudden Mahāyāna faculties to bring them to awakening and entry. Therefore, a subsequent passage states: "There are sentient beings who find extensive treatises with voluminous texts burdensome, but whose minds delight in dhāraṇī, grasping many meanings through few texts, and who are capable of attaining understanding." It also states: "Desiring to explain the fundamental meaning of the Tathāgata so that all sentient beings may attain correct understanding without error..." and "In order to enable sentient beings whose good roots have matured to become capable of non-retrogressing faith in the Mahāyāna Dharma..." and so on. These, then, act precisely as conditions for those at the stages of faith and understanding in the Mahāyāna. Conversely, we know that merely lacking mental strength regarding this extensive [work] is what is called "shallow discernment."