起信論疏筆削記 14.11

14.11

喻中，論木喻眾生，火性喻本覺，人知喻佛等。方便即鑽燧之事，喻悲願說法。燒木即先有火起，火喻發心修行，燒木喻斷煩惱。此中若無及不假之言，正顯闕緣也。

In the simile, in the Śāstra, wood illustrates sentient beings; the fire-nature illustrates original enlightenment; the person's knowledge illustrates the Buddha, and so on. Skillful means—the activity of using a fire drill—illustrates the compassionate vows and preaching of the Dharma. The burning of the wood means that fire first arises; the fire illustrates giving rise to the mind [for bodhi] and cultivating practice, and the burning of the wood illustrates severing afflictions. Here, the words "if there is no" and "without relying on" directly show the absence of conditions.