起信論疏筆削記 2.18

2.18

"Arising from what?" asks on what basis the bodhisattva's intention to compose the treatise arose. "Great compassion" is the unconditioned compassion identical in substance [with all], distinguished from [compassion based on] affectionate views; hence it is called "great." "Sympathy" means sorrowful pity, which is the subject that feels compassion. "Living beings" refers to sentient beings, which are the objective realm toward which compassion is directed. Ordinary beings are attached to birth and death and cling to permanence, bliss, self, and purity; thus they are said to be "deluded." Followers of the two vehicles love nirvāṇa and cling to the four [marks] such as impermanence, taking what is not the correct goal to be correct; thus it is called an "error." Composing the treatise for them causes them to turn from delusion to awakening, and to abandon the partial to enter the perfect.