起信論疏筆削記 17.2

17.2

First, the question. The treatise: "It was said above, etc.": It cites what was spoken earlier to serve as the doctrinal basis. That is, it was said before: "The meaning of enlightenment is that the mind's essence is free from conceptual thought. The mark of freedom from thought is equal to the realm of empty space, with nothing it does not pervade, the single mark of the dharmadhātu," and so on. It was also fully explained in the Gate of Tathatā and in the essence and attributes of tathatā. From "Why, then..." below, it confronts this to form a challenge, meaning: sentient beings' tathatā is identical to the Buddha's essence; merely contemplating tathatā, one should then attain the Way—why would one need additionally to cultivate various practices? This implies that one should only use the straightforward mind and that it is improper further to speak of the latter two.