起信論疏筆削記 4.29

4.29

"Regarding the word 'tathatā' (真如) below" introduces the second part, explaining tathatā. "This clarifies…" states the intended meaning: because it is without alteration or change, it is called tathatā (suchness/true thusness). "'True' (真)…" explains its meaning. "Falsehood" (偽) refers to deceitful pretense, like brass pretending to be genuine gold; "delusion" (妄) refers to unreality, like a shadow compared to the original object. Now it is explained that the dharmatā is completely devoid of such things, and is therefore called "true". "Without alteration or change" means that the past is like the present, [its nature] in form is like [its nature] in feeling, and [its nature] in defiled states is like [its nature] in pure states. Therefore a sūtra says: "Neither arising nor perishing, neither defiled nor pure, neither increasing nor decreasing, having no alteration or change"—hence it is called "thusness" (如). Furthermore, the "true" cannot be negated, and "thusness" cannot be affirmed. Therefore the text below states: "There is nothing that can be negated, because all dharmas are completely true; nor is there anything that can be affirmed, because all dharmas are equally thus." Since the dharmatā is like this, it is called tathatā.