起信論疏筆削記 1.57

1.57

"Pitying the latter [ages]" and so forth is the second [part]: the actual composition of the treatise. "Pity" refers to the bodhisattva's intention in composing the treatise. When a bodhisattva arouses the mind [for bodhi], it embodies three things: great compassion, great wisdom, and great vows. Compassion delivers sentient beings; wisdom seeks realization; vows encompass everything. Now, to pluck out the suffering of sentient beings and bestow ultimate bliss, he composes this treatise; hence compassion is essential. The treatise below states: "Namely, in order to make sentient beings leave behind all suffering and attain ultimate bliss, not out of seeking worldly fame, gain, or respect." "Latter ages" relates to time; "the confused kind" relates to species. That is to say, after two thousand five hundred years have passed since the Buddha's passing into nirvāṇa, liberation, wisdom, extensive learning, and dhyāna-concentration will all fail to be steadfast, and following only confused views, beings will merely give rise to disputes. A class such as this is truly worthy of pity; thus he composes this treatise to lead them to awaken and enter. "Ye" (葉) means ages; "lun" (倫) means kind.