起信論疏筆削記 8.45

8.45

"Tathatā..." clarifies the four meanings within the true. Regarding "manifesting true virtue": turning back the flow to overturn defilement, set in contrast to deluded dharmas, manifests this true virtue. This is the mark of purity of wisdom within the original enlightenment that conforms to defilement below. The text says: "It means that, relying on the perfuming of the power of the Dharma, one cultivates the expedient means in accordance with reality to completion; breaking the mark of composite consciousness and extinguishing the mark of the continuing mind, the dharmakāya is manifested, because wisdom is pure." Regarding "giving rise to pure function": avidyā is delusion and constantly gives rise to defiled function. Because true perfuming is potent, it causes that to turn back the flow and conform to the nature of tathatā; therefore it is termed "pure function". Below it says: "Perfuming of the intrinsic essence and attributes: from beginingless time it possesses anāsrava dharmas, is fully endowed with inconceivable action, and acts as the nature of objects. Relying on these two meanings, it constantly perfumes, enabling sentient beings to weary of the suffering of saṃsāra and aspire to seek nirvāṇa." It also says: "Because the dharma of tathatā exists, it is able to perfume avidyā... up to attaining nirvāṇa and accomplishing natural karma," and so on. Regarding "concealing the real": this is what was explained before, that tathatā accords with conditions to become the ālaya-consciousness. Once it has become this consciousness, it is concealed within the consciousness; because it is concealed, it is named tathāgatagarbha, as has already been seen above. Regarding "manifesting the deluded": once the true essence is concealed, deluded marks immediately appear—namely, the mark of objects. Below it says: "Not comprehending the dharma of tathatā, unenlightened thoughts arise, manifesting deluded objects."