起信論疏筆削記 13.54

13.54

"Mental consciousness" is the consciousness of the mind. The "ordinary persons" in the treatise are those prior to the ten faiths who do not understand consciousness-only, yet cultivate practice. "Because of this consciousness," etc., first clarifies the consciousness relied upon: because this coarse consciousness fundamentally arises with the objective realm as condition, they do not know that dharmas are fundamentally born relying upon the manifesting consciousness; because they do not know, they additionally grasp them as real. "Ordinary persons," etc., clarifies the persons who rely upon it. Furthermore, the two vehicles do not know the seventh and eighth consciousnesses or the subtle divisions of the consciousness of phenomena, but only cultivate the cognitive wisdom of the emptiness of self. Ordinary persons cultivate practice indifferently, not knowing the principle of consciousness-only, but merely relying on coarse consciousness, giving rise to minds of longing and aversion to seek the fruit of buddhahood, unable to eliminate marks; therefore they are spoken of together with the two vehicles. "Due to this," etc., clarifies the degree of attaining the path. "Producing the intention" means generating the intention to proceed toward the buddha path, which is the mind of longing and aversion. "Over a long period of time," etc.: because the mind of proceeding does not cease, they gradually become able to understand the principle of consciousness-only, cultivating practice in accordance with reality, and still manage to attain the path. Because the application of mind is roundabout, it is not rapid; hence it says "over a long period of time." Bodhi is the unexcelled path.