大乘起信論內義略探記 1.18

1.18

問：何故真如門云即示，生滅門云能示？答：真如門是不起門，與所顯體無異，詮旨不別，故云即示，是是不起故唯示體。生滅是起動門，染淨既異，詮旨又分，能所不同，故不云即也。

Question: Why does the aspect of tathatā say "directly demonstrates," while the aspect of arising and ceasing says "can demonstrate"? Answer: The aspect of tathatā is the gate of non-arising; being non-different from the essence it reveals, expression and meaning are not distinct, hence it says "directly demonstrates." Because it is non-arising, it demonstrates only essence. Arising and ceasing is the gate of active arising; defilement and purity already being distinct, expression and meaning are further separated, and the revealing and the revealed are not identical, hence it does not say "directly."