起信論疏筆削記 14.36

14.36

In the next passage, the commentary states: "Directly revealing" is also an enunciation. Here it applies generally to causes, conditions, essence, and function, all collectively named pure dharmas. The treatise states: "Constantly perfuming" refers to the internal cause, the perfuming of essence and attributes. "The deluded mind is extinguished": Because the real perfuming is powerful, it diminishes the capacity of ignorance, and as one gives rise to practices that counteract it, the deluded mind is extinguished, accomplishing pure and perfect wisdom. "The dharmakāya manifests": Because the deluded mind that was perfumed is extinguished, the perfuming essence and attributes manifest; this is destroying the mark of arising and ceasing within the composite consciousness to reveal this non-arising and non-ceasing essence. That is to say, the tathāgatagarbha in bondage, at this point of manifestation, is named dharmakāya. This is precisely what was previously called ultimate enlightenment, the mark of wisdom-purity, the mirror of emergence from dharmas, the attainment of nirvāṇa, and so forth. "Perfuming by producing function": Once the dharmakāya manifests, it is able to give rise to spontaneous karmic function to respond to and transform sentient beings. This is the meaning of perfuming by function, which then constitutes the two conditions, differentiated and equal; that is precisely the aforementioned mark of inconceivable karma, the mirror of perfuming by conditions producing spontaneous karma, and so forth. "Therefore it is uninterrupted": This means that the three bodies are all permanent; being uninterrupted is the meaning of permanent. Now, this real teaching merely states that the two bodies are mutually identical without obstruction; how could they not be permanent? However, the present section heading's statement that it "has a beginning" is also provisionally stated according to the meaning of perfuming by function. If judged by the perfuming of essence and attributes, there is no beginning. Therefore the text states: "Because the dharma of tathatā constantly perfumes." Also it was said earlier: "From beginningless time it is endowed with undefiled dharmas, fully equipped with inconceivable karma, serving as the nature of objects," and so forth. And it states next: "It is not produced at a prior limit." And it states below: "Because the tathāgatagarbha has no prior limit." Here, temporarily juxtaposing it with false dharmas, this section heading was provisionally formulated; one must not rigidly cling to it as identical to an incomplete teaching. The commentary's text is understandable.