起信論疏筆削記 6.52

6.52

[On the Commentary's] "Because essence..." below: essence is tathatā, and marks are arising and ceasing. Tathatā follows conditions to form arising and ceasing, and arising and ceasing have no essence and are identical to tathatā; because this is stated vice versa, they are not separate. "Golden vessels": gold exemplifies tathatā, and vessels exemplify arising and ceasing; the meaning of mutual inclusion can be seen in the text. [On] "Truly because..." below, it concludes the metaphor to parallel the doctrine. "Truly" (良) means really. "Because" (以) means due to. It is really due to the fact that the two gates of gold and vessels have never been different; hence it says "one measure" (一揆). "Measure" (揆) means standard, which is equal. Because they are not different, when one mentions gold, it universally includes vessels completely, for the vessels in their entirety are gold; when one mentions vessels, it universally includes gold completely, for the gold in its entirety is the vessel. [On] "This meaning..." below, it parallels the doctrine. "This meaning" is this meaning of being not separate. When one mentions tathatā, it universally includes arising and ceasing completely, for arising and ceasing in their entirety are tathatā; when one mentions arising and ceasing, it universally includes tathatā completely, for tathatā in its entirety is arising and ceasing. The doctrine and the metaphor are precisely equal; hence it says "is also thus." "Thus" (然) means like this.