起信論疏筆削記 16.53

16.53

2. External Conditions. On the treatise's "there are some who make offerings... down to... falling onto the stage of the two vehicles": All of this distinguishes the marks of advance and regression of those who seek the Mahāyāna. On the commentary's "the time is not fulfilled": Because it speaks in terms of those with dull faculties who are vigorous. Regarding "seeing the Buddha through form": Since "seeing me by form and seeking me by sound, this person practices a deviant path and cannot see the Tathāgata"; therefore it was said earlier: not knowing that it is manifested by the transforming consciousness, they see it as coming from outside, grasping the delimitations of form, or seeing sculpted and painted images of the Tathāgata, and so forth. Regarding "making offerings to the Saṅgha while abiding in marks": They cannot comprehend the emptiness of the essence of the three wheels, practicing giving without abiding. Regarding "following inferior teachings": This differs from giving rise to the seeds of the two vehicles earlier; the former was an inferior cause, while this is an inferior condition. Regarding "imitating another's traces": Merely following what that person does without making discernment for oneself, copying another's external traces without examining one's own mind. These people regress when seeing others regress, or their minds slacken and they regress on their own. "These", etc., concludes and excludes them, because compassion and wisdom are the essence of the bodhi-mind.