起信論疏筆削記 18.4

18.4

Establishing the principle. Commentary: Regarding “The meaning is” and so forth: It summarizes the general intention of the reply, which reverses what was asked; the meaning lies immediately below. Treatise: Regarding “All” and so forth: It establishes two correct principles: First, they are fundamentally the true mind; hence the treatise says “all objects” and so forth, meaning that all dharmas are mind-only, with no external realms, and now having realized the source of mind, one ought to know them fully, truly leaving no room for doubt or hesitation. Second, it is fundamentally without conceptual thought; hence the treatise says “free from thoughts and conceptualizations,” meaning that since they are fundamentally mind and originally free from thought, they are uniquely real; now, it is precisely by being free from delusion that one is able to understand, and this is even more beyond doubt. Therefore, the subsequent text of the treatise merely takes the reversal of these two senses as fault, and the concordance with these two senses as attainment. Commentary: Regarding “Although objects” and so forth: It explains the first meaning. “True mind” and so forth explains the second meaning. Both can be understood. However, this treatise merely establishes the principle for now, without yet showing the ability to comprehend and know; the commentary fully anticipates the essential meaning, so it concludes beforehand by saying “fully comprehends and knows.” If one grasps the treatise's purport here, the subsequent passages will naturally be free of confusion, and as they are explained in turn, it will become all the more evident.