起信論疏筆削記 5.8

5.8

[The text says,] "In the commentary: 'The last one...', this is the third part, explaining the latter line. Necessarily causing sentient beings to leave behind the errors of doubt and attachment and seek the practice of correct faith is intended to make their faith complete and cause them to enter the abodes, advancing toward realizing the great fruit, which is to ensure that the seed of the Buddha is uninterrupted. 'Faith complete' means reaching the culmination of the ten faiths stage; 'entering the abodes' means the ten abodes stage, which is the beginning of the three ranks of worthies. As for 'non-retrogression', speaking generally, having entered the determined collection of the ten abodes, faith has already become a root, and the root is deep and difficult to uproot, hence it is called non-retrogression; speaking specifically, the seventh among the ten abodes is called the non-retrogressing abode. 'Capable of seeking the fruit of buddhahood' means that once faith does not retrogress, buddhahood is definitely attained, unlike the stage of the ten faiths where the light-as-a-feather mind is not yet settled. Having entered the ten abodes, practices and vows are gradually accomplished, and merits increase; there is only progression and no retrogression, and one is capable of carrying on the lineage and aiming directly for bodhi; how could the seed of the Buddha be cut off? Quoting the text is understandable."