起信論疏筆削記 1.38

1.38

From "It is just like..." onwards is the second part: the similes. Among these four lines, the first two lines illustrate that tathatā does not obstruct arising and ceasing, and the latter two lines illustrate that arising and ceasing do not obstruct tathatā. "It" (其) is a word pointing to the dharma. "Just like" (猶) means as if (如). The movement of the waves illustrates the differences between defilement and purity in arising and ceasing. The wetness of water illustrates that tathatā is of one essence without difference. The waves have motion as their mark; water has wetness as its nature. The first line reveals [the meaning] by negation, in order to illustrate that within the gate of arising and ceasing there is no defilement or purity distinct from tathatā; hence it says "waves have no [motion apart from water]," and so on. "Therefore, directly..." onwards is the direct simile: because they are not different, one is able to discern arising and ceasing right within the One Mind; hence it says "directly upon the water," and so forth. This illustrates the previous text's point that without changing its nature, the conditioned origination of defilement and purity is constantly distinct.