起信論疏筆削記 8.60

8.60

Regarding the treatise's "that is" and what follows: second, identifying the essence and establishing the name. The Tathāgata is the response body; the dharmakāya is the true body. "The Tathāgata's dharmakāya" is a dependent genitive compound (tatpuruṣa); the intention is to clarify that the mind-essence and the dharmakāya are non-dual, and so it says "that is". Furthermore, apart from the true there is no response, and the response is itself the true; hence it says "that is". Furthermore, the Tathāgata and the dharmakāya are both identical with the true body; it is merely that by identifying the dharma with reference to the person it is called "the Tathāgata's dharmakāya", which also conveys the sense of identity. The latter two are appositional karmadhāraya compounds. Thus, the word "is" extends across these three applications. However, the first is the primary sense, while the remaining two are secondary, as students should know. Regarding "equal": it is because ordinary beings, sages, sentient beings, and the vessel-world are non-dually complete and perfect. Regarding the commentary's "wishing to clarify" and what follows: wishing to reveal the original enlightenment that is in bondage, it consequently adduces the dharmakāya that has emerged from bondage; this is using the fruit to reveal the cause. Although the names differ as cause and fruit, the true essence is non-dual; hence the treatise says "that is".