起信論疏筆削記 14.25

14.25

However, if one relies on the treatise's meaning, these two conditions ought by principle to extend universally throughout the various stages of cause and fruition. For example, before entering faith, not having faith in cause and effect, the Three Jewels, and tathatā is called not yet receiving the Way. The Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and others act as conditions for them to cause them to faithfully accept it, so that they first become vessels for the Way, which is called the condition of receiving the Way. Having entered faith, the practice of the ten types of faithful mind that they cultivate also relies on their conditions to cause practice to increase, which is called the condition of increasing practice. For instance, before entering the ten understandings, the ten stages, the Buddha-stage, and so forth, it is called not yet receiving the Way. Relying on the power of their conditions, they are able to receive understanding, enter realization, attain nirvāṇa, and so forth, all of which are called receiving the Way. If from the stage of understanding onward they cultivate practices prior to the stages, and from the path of seeing onward they cultivate practices on the stages, the Buddhas and others serve as conditions to cause them to increase, which is called increasing practice. For example, because an eighth-stage bodhisattva attains signlessness and effortlessness, he intends to enter nirvāṇa and not advance to the ninth stage. For this reason, the Buddha manifests his body to make seven exhortations, after which the bodhisattva initiates practice and advances even more swiftly—how could this not be the condition of increasing practice? Even when on the verge of completing correct awakening, one still relies on the Buddhas as conditions. Receiving the Way and increasing practice may come earlier or later; both apply universally.