起信論疏筆削記 14.13

14.13

In the lack of cause, on the Śāstra's "not yet having perfuming power": this is like wet wood encountering the bow-drill; although it has a fire-nature, drilling it will not produce [fire]. Those with obstructions are likewise so: although they have original enlightenment, upon hearing the Dharma they still do not awaken and understand. On "cannot ultimately," and so forth: there are also those who, hearing the Dharma, accept it with faith and temporarily give rise to the mind [for bodhi], yet rarely manage to carry it through to the end, unable to make it last long. As explained below, some see the physical form of the Buddha, some make offerings to the saṃgha, some rely on the two vehicles, or some emulate others in giving rise to the mind; none of these are determinate. Or they regress to the stage of ordinary beings or the two vehicles; this is like wet wood still having warmth when drilled, yet unable to produce fire to burn the wood. Just as worldly dharmas are extremely numerous, among them those who have faithful understanding and cultivate toward [the goal] are truly rare to find. This is simply because the power of internal perfuming is slight and the obscuration of delusion is thick and heavy; applying the simile to the dharma, it can be clearly seen.