起信論疏筆削記 16.45

16.45

Question: Cultivating the causes of the ten wholesome actions is already practice itself; why is it designated as "the cause of practice"? Answer: Looking toward the subsequent supramundane practice, mundane goodness is therefore taken as the cause. Thus, mundane defiled practice serves as the cause for supramundane undefiled practice. Question: Being repulsed by saṃsāra and seeking bodhi—is this not supramundane practice? Answer: Although there is this mind, the actual fact has not yet occurred. The words "repulsed by desire" can be seen upon reflection. Furthermore, this repulsion and seeking are merely phenomenal goodness; not yet corresponding with contemplation of principle, they are not called correct practice. However, according to this text, one is still prior to faith, not having entered the ten faiths, merely serving as an expedient for the ten faiths. Like ordinary people who give rise to a mind of repulsion and seeking wishing to practice goodness—how could they already be persons of the ten faiths? Therefore the commentary says: "The above all differentiate the causes of practice." This is the meaning. When it next says "cultivating the mind of faith," only then is it the stage of the true ten faiths.