起信論疏筆削記 5.23

5.23

Third, causing them to enter non-retrogression. Regarding "differentiating [the marks of aspiration to the path]," the text says: "As for differentiating the marks of the aspiration to the path, it refers to the path realized by all buddhas, because it refers to the meaning of all bodhisattvas generating the aspiration, practicing, and advancing [toward it]," down to "if the mind has defilement, the dharmakāya will not appear," hence it precisely correlates [here]. Regarding "because of that," it explains the reason; the passages below are all patterned on this. That text says: "Those who have thus perfected faith and are able to generate the aspiration enter the stage of correct determination and ultimately never retrogress; they are said to dwell in the lineage of the Tathāgatas, because they correspond with the correct cause." "The culminating stage of mind": the stage of the ten faiths has three kinds of mind: entering, abiding, and culminating. "Entering" refers to first departing from ordinary beings and entering the first stage of faith; "culminating" refers to the perfection and completion of faith, which is the tenth faith; the "abiding mind" refers to the intermediate eight faiths. Since the ten faiths are like this, the remaining abodes, practices, and dedications are all likewise by extension. "Ripening" is spoken in reference to the culminating stage of mind in the present ten faiths. "Non-retrogression" is said with a view toward the entering stage of mind of the future ten abodes. Now, it is for those whose faith is ripened, who receive the text on differentiating the marks of the path, so that they enter non-retrogression.