[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) › [起信論疏筆削記](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1848) › 5.12 # 起信論疏筆削記 5.12 起信論疏筆削記 5.12 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [5.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1848.5.12) 論　能起等者，大乘法是能起，信根是所起也。大乘之體是一心等法，若依此法而起信者，名大乘信，如前開題處說。題目等者，題云大乘起信，此云起大乘信，但左右之語，無別異也。信理決定者，以真如門中但唯顯理，理體真實，故云決定。決定即不生不滅、非有非無，畢竟平等，無有變異，不可破壞，為一切法平等之性，不增減故。信業果者，業果通於染淨。若無明為因生三細，境界為緣生六麁，即是世間染因果不亡。始覺反流，翻九相成四位，即是出世淨因果不亡。隨流反流，定有此事，如影隨形，必然之理，故云不亡。亡，無也。三寶等者，以有體、相二大故，信法寶不壞；以有用大故，信佛僧不壞，不壞亦即決定不亡之義。然疏不說信一心者，以二門三大即是心之行相，但信於此，即是信心，故不言爾。信滿入住者，謂自外凡之內凡，既離毛道，信則決定不失不壞，故云成根不退。能持等者，謂能任持前之信力，自分不退故。譬植草木，根成必活。生後等者，信既成就，即能生長後位功德，漸勝漸進行、向、地果故。如草木成根，漸生華果。然大乘中信之為要，具有六喻：一、如手，《華嚴》云：如人有手，入寶山中自在取寶。有信亦爾，入佛法中自在取於無漏法財。二、如師子筋絃，其聲一發，一切諸絃皆悉斷絕。若人發一信心，一切惑障悉皆消滅。三、如師子乳，或以一滴投餘乳中，悉成清水。若人發一信心，一切惡魔悉皆變成清淨法流。四、如世財，能養色身壽命。信財能養法身慧命，故七財之首名曰信財。五、如其根，如前所辨。六、如力，有力能伏剛硬。強盛信力能摧惡不善法，故五力之中有信力也。今言根者，即當第五。須要說者，謂聖人利見，理宜說法；若不說者，違本誓願，如何名為大慈悲人求正覺者？法門既塞，苦趣道開，茫茫群生飄流何息？ > \[The text says,\] "In the treatise: 'Able to give rise to...' and so forth: the Mahāyāna-dharma is that which gives rise, and the root of faith is that which is given rise to. The essence of the Mahāyāna is the dharma of the One Mind and so forth; if one gives rise to faith relying on this dharma, it is named Mahāyāna faith, as explained earlier in opening the title. 'Title...' and so forth: the title says 'Awakening of Faith in the Mahāyāna', and here it says 'giving rise to Mahāyāna faith'; these are merely interchangeable phrasings, without difference. 'Believing the principle is determined': because in the tathatā gate only the principle is revealed, and the essence of principle is true and real, it is said to be 'determined'. 'Determined' means unarisen and unceasing, neither existing nor non-existing, ultimately equal, without change or alteration, indestructible, because it is the equal nature of all dharmas, without increase or decrease. 'Believing in karmic fruit': karmic fruit pertains to both the defiled and the pure. If ignorance serves as the cause to give rise to the three subtle marks, and objective realms serve as conditions to give rise to the six coarse marks, this is the worldly, defiled cause and effect not being lost. If actualized enlightenment flows back, overturning the nine marks to accomplish the four stages, this is the world-transcending, pure cause and effect not being lost. Following the flow or going against the flow, these things definitely exist, like a shadow following a form, an inevitable principle; hence it says 'not lost'. 'Lost' means non-existent. 'Three Jewels...' and so forth: because there are the two greatnesses of essence and attributes, one has faith that the Jewel of the Dharma is indestructible; because there is the greatness of function, one has faith that the Buddha and Saṅgha are indestructible; 'indestructible' is also the meaning of determined and not lost. However, the commentary does not speak of believing in the One Mind, because the two gates and three greatnesses are themselves the operational marks of the mind; simply believing in these is believing in the mind; hence it does not state it. 'Faith complete, entering the abodes': meaning proceeding from the outer ordinary to the inner ordinary; having departed from the feather path, faith is determined, not lost and not destructible; hence it says 'becoming a root and not retrogressing'. 'Able to maintain...' and so forth: meaning able to uphold the prior power of faith, because one's own share does not retrogress. It is like planting grass and trees: when the root is formed, it will certainly live. 'Generating the subsequent...' and so forth: once faith is accomplished, it can generate and grow the merits of subsequent stages, gradually excelling and progressing through the stages of practice, dedication, grounds, and fruition. It is like grass and trees forming roots and gradually producing flowers and fruit. However, within the Mahāyāna, faith being essential possesses six metaphors: First, like a hand; the \*Avataṃsaka-sūtra\* says: 'Just as a person with hands enters a mountain of jewels and freely takes the jewels, one who has faith is also like this, entering the Buddha Dharma and freely taking the anāsrava Dharma-wealth.' Second, like the strings of lion's sinew: once their sound is emitted, all other strings snap; if a person generates a single thought of faith, all hindrances of delusion are completely extinguished. Third, like lion's milk: if a single drop is cast into other milk, it all turns into clear water; if a person generates a single thought of faith, all evil māras completely transform into a pure Dharma-stream. Fourth, like worldly wealth: it can nourish the physical body and life-span; the wealth of faith can nourish the dharmakāya and wisdom-life; therefore, the first of the seven wealths is called the wealth of faith. Fifth, like its root, as analyzed earlier. Sixth, like power: having power can subdue the hard and unyielding; strong faith power can crush evil and unwholesome dharmas; hence, among the five powers, there is the power of faith. Now speaking of 'root', it corresponds to the fifth. 'Must speak' means that when a sage appears to benefit others, in principle he should speak the Dharma; if he does not speak, he violates his original vow; how could he be called a person of great compassion seeking correct enlightenment? The Dharma approaches having been blocked, the paths of suffering destinies open; how could the boundless drifting of sentient beings ever cease?" > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 5.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1848.5.11) - [Next: 5.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1848.5.13) - [Up: 5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1848.5) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1848~en-mt.5.12) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1848.5.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1848.5.12) · Pramāṇa