起信論疏筆削記 3.39

3.39

"For what reason..." and so forth: second, dispelling objections. The objection means: from cause to fruit there are immeasurable gates of practice; for what reason is faith alone clarified here? Furthermore, faith is the shallowest dharma; compared with understanding, practice, and the realization of fruition, it is hardly extraordinary—why does the title mention only this? "The root of practice": this answers the first question. The single dharma of faith serves as the prelude to entering the path, and good qualities as numerous as the sands of the Ganges arise based on it. If one lacks faith, how could one give rise to practice and reach the realization of fruition? "For those of initial capacity": this answers the second question. Initial capacity refers to bodhisattvas of the ten faiths, whose station resides among outer worldlings, not yet having entered the kalpa count. The present śāstra is directed precisely to this group; hence the text below states: "Here, relying on those sentient beings who have not yet entered the assembly of the truly determined, the cultivation of the practice of faith is spoken." Yet these are those of superior faculties among initial capacities. If their faculties were somewhat inferior, they would first enter the Hīnayāna and only gradually progress to the Great. "Self-confidence in one's own nature" and so forth, along with the passage from the Avataṃsaka-sūtra, all corroborate the meaning of "root of practice." Because this meaning was not explained previously, these are specifically cited as proof. The meaning of initial capacity was already clarified in the overarching introduction, and so is not discussed here. The remaining text is clear.