起信論疏筆削記 1.3

1.3

In the region of Central India, there was one named Yuluoweini, which is translated in this land as Aśvaghoṣa. Within six hundred years after the Buddha's parinirvāṇa, he broke down the banner of false views, erected the jewel of the true Dharma, took the definitive teachings as his authority, and composed this single treatise titled *Mahāyānaśraddhotpāda*. It is explained as having five sections, which are broadly divided into three parts: First, the section on causes and conditions, which is the introductory part. It clarifies that the arising of the treatise is due to eight causes and conditions, because it was not done rashly or without benefit. The last section on encouraging practice and the benefits is the dissemination part: it encourages producing faith in the treatise, contemplating it, and practicing it, so that one attains great benefit and bliss, and it flows down to later generations to benefit sentient beings. The middle three sections are the main part: namely, the section on establishing the meaning, which briefly indicates the essential outline, establishes the dharma of the One Mind, sets forth the two aspects, and adduces the meaning of the three greatnesses, setting in motion both cause and effect and briefly serving as the basis for the subsequent text; the section of explanations, where, because the meaning and principles were not fully unfolded by the preceding brief indication, it is fitting to explain them extensively to make the meaning luminous and thereby give rise to understanding; and the section on faith and practice, which explains the four kinds of faith and five kinds of practice so that the roots of faith of sentient beings may mature and they may enter non-retrogression. These three sections above are what was initiated by the preceding causes and conditions and what is encouraged by the subsequent section; hence they are all called the main part. Having already understood the three great divisions of the text of the treatise, one should know how the text of the commentary that can explain it is arranged: Since there is a preface before the commentary, that is the introductory part; from the opening of the chapters downward is the main part; and since the subsequent text lacks an appraisal, colophon, and dedication of merit, it lacks the dissemination part. Since the three parts are not complete, it is simply divided into two.