起信論疏筆削記 19.53

19.53

From "[One] should" onward presents the preceding text of the treatise, in order to pair it with two among the three testings: polishing with concentration and cultivating according to the fundamental. Regarding "Because of this" onward, which explains the reason: someone may say, "According to the treatise's words on right mindfulness, it only concerns its meditative concentration; how can there be cultivating according to the fundamental?" Therefore this explains it. Thus it was said before: not relying on breath, shape and color, earth, water, fire, wind, and so forth; this eliminates visualizations of other matters. It also says: as for this right mindfulness, one should know it is mind-only, without external objects; and furthermore, this mind also has no self-mark that can be apprehended. It also says: through long practice and complete maturation, one's mind is able to abide; because the mind abides, it gradually becomes sharp and vigorous, and in accord [with it] one can enter the tathatā samādhi, and so forth. Therefore we know that deeply entering this concentration is precisely cultivating according to the fundamental, and there is no other dharma that serves as the fundamental cultivation. Question: Based on what was said before, it was merely the spheres of māra; why then does the present text conclude what is abandoned by speaking of being free from karmic hindrances? Answer: There are two meanings to this: First, the practitioner internally has karmic hindrances, and therefore externally attracts the spheres of māra. If one is free from karmic hindrances, there are no deeds of māra. Here it speaks in terms of the root, and hence says karmic hindrances. Second, if one falls into the net of māra, this becomes a karmic hindrance; because māra takes pleasure in saṃsāra, conceives views based on craving, and covets worldly fame, gain, and veneration, one creates karma on account of this, which thus becomes a karmic hindrance. Now, being free from the deeds of māra is precisely being free from karmic hindrances.