起信論疏筆削記 10.38

10.38

一空下，二、單釋鏡中四義，文二：初、略配。空者，此就真體本無妄染，如文云：以從本已來，一切染法不相應故，猶如於鏡唯有性明，故云空也。鏡中所現但是影像，其相元無，亦成空義。不空等者，雖無妄染，然有自體及性功德。若無其體，將何現物？餘二可見。此四如次以配四義。此中雙標而後單釋者，以空隨鏡顯也。但釋鏡義，自挾虛空，以一一義皆有周遍如虛空故，是故單釋。

"First, empty..." is the second part, specifically explaining the four meanings in the mirror, with two parts in the text: first, a brief correlation. "Empty": this is explained in terms of the true essence being fundamentally free from delusional defilement; as the text says: "Because from the beginningless past, all defiled dharmas have not been associated [with it]," just as a mirror has only its luminous nature, hence it is called "empty." What appears in the mirror is merely a reflected image, whose mark is originally non-existent; this also constitutes the meaning of "empty." "Not empty, etc.": although it is free from delusional defilement, it nevertheless possesses its own essence and the virtues of its nature. If it lacked its essence, with what could it manifest things? The remaining two can be known. These four are correlated in order with the four meanings. Here, presenting both first and then explaining individually is because space is revealed in accordance with the mirror. Merely explaining the meaning of the mirror inherently encompasses empty space, because each and every meaning has the pervasiveness like empty space; therefore, it is explained individually.