起信論疏筆削記 4.36

4.36

Second, "Furthermore, relying on…" relies on the Ratnagotravibhāga. The former vertically addressed stages and ranks, and therefore used those on the bhūmis to include the fulfillment of the bhūmis. The present horizontally speaks in terms of wisdom and practice, and therefore uses the fundamental [wisdom] to include the subsequent [wisdom]. "Comprehending the true principle" means cultivating calming (śamatha) practice relying on the gate of tathatā, which is also practice that departs from marks, and the meaning of realizing the true; hence it is called "as it truly is". "Fully knowing…" and so on means cultivating insight (vipaśyanā) practice according to the gate of arising and perishing, which is also practice that accords with marks, and the meaning of reaching the conventional; hence it is called "universally cultivating". As the text below says: "Contemplating that the self-nature of all dharmas is unproduced, departing from false views, not abiding in saṃsāra; contemplating that all dharmas are combinations of causes and conditions, that karma and fruit are not lost, giving rise to great compassion, cultivating various merits, gathering and transforming sentient beings, not abiding in nirvāṇa," and so forth. This is identical to what the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa-sūtra says: "Able to skillfully distinguish all dharma marks, while remaining immovable in the ultimate truth." Although these two explanations differ in terms of stages versus wisdom, both are discussed with respect to the bhūmis, so both are accepted. However, as the treatise author manifested traces in the causal stage, he should properly take refuge in all noble and worthy ones. If spoken of from this angle, the word "equal" extends to the lower stages; that is, using the noble to include the worthy, and the great to include the small, naturally harmonizing with the earlier words that the mind of taking refuge is vast and the principle encompasses identical essence.