起信論疏筆削記 11.34

11.34

First, the simile. Commentary: 'Defilement and purity...' Defilement is the three subtle and six coarse marks of non-enlightenment; purity is the two marks and four mirrors of the meaning of enlightenment. 'To take' means to use. Because tathatā is the gate of universal characteristics, it can generally serve as the nature for both dharmas. Furthermore, tathatā is without characteristics, so it takes these two dharmas as its characteristics. Thus, the two characteristics equally rely on the one nature, and the one nature equally generates the two characteristics; therefore, the word 'same' applies to both nature and characteristics. In comparing to defilement and purity: because vessels are fine and coarse. The rest of the text is clear.