大乘起信論內義略探記 1.30

1.30

Question: How can the four characteristics be simultaneous? If they are simultaneous, why is awakening sequential? Answer: There is only a single dreaming mind in which the four characteristics transmigrate; persons dwelling in the dream consider them to be sequential, and according to their intellectual capacities, they awaken partially in shallow or deep measures. Yet the Great Awakened One knows that the four characteristics of the dream are only the one pure mind, completely devoid of sequence or substantial essence; thus they are said to be simultaneous and without independent existence. Therefore the Mahāyānasaṃgraha says: "Dwelling in a dream, one thinks years have passed; awakening occurs in just a moment. Thus, though time is immeasurable, it is subsumed in a single kṣaṇa." Here, "a single kṣaṇa" is precisely non-thought. Thus the Laṅkāvatāra says: "All phenomena are unproduced: this is what I call the meaning of the kṣaṇa. That there is cessation immediately upon arising is not spoken for fools." The explanation is: transmigration in a kṣaṇa necessarily lacks self-nature; lacking self-nature, it is precisely non-arising. If it had self-nature, it would not transmigrate; therefore only those who realize non-arising can truly see the kṣaṇa. The above has explained the meaning of initial awakening in terms of the aspect of returning to the origin.