大乘起信論裂網疏 1.75

1.75

問：既云真如甚深用，何故不屬真如，乃屬生滅因緣？答：若非生滅因緣，則真如之名尚自不立，何得辨用大耶？夫眾生現前介爾生滅之心，體即真如，相即如來藏，用即能生一切因果。而日用不知，是謂理即大乘。若能知此一心體大、相大、用大，是謂名字即大乘。若能觀察妄念無相，是謂觀行即大乘。若粗垢先落，六根清淨，是謂相似即大乘，此論名之為相似覺。若能親證此體相用，任運增進，是謂分證即大乘，此論名之為隨分覺。若至心根本性常住現前，是謂究竟即大乘，此論名之為究竟覺。六而常即，始終平等，即此心真如門也；即而常六，昇沈碩異，即此心生滅門也。故立一切眾生心為有法，顯示摩訶衍義。初釋大義竟。

Question: Since it is called the profound function of tathatā, why does it not belong to tathatā, but rather to causes and conditions of arising and ceasing? Answer: Were it not for the causes and conditions of arising and ceasing, even the name 'tathatā' would not be established; how could one discern the greatness of function? The momentary arising-and-ceasing mind present right before sentient beings has tathatā as its essence, the tathāgatagarbha as its attributes, and the ability to produce all causes and effects as its function. Yet using it daily without knowing it is called the Mahāyāna in principle. If one can know the greatness of essence, greatness of attributes, and greatness of function of this one mind, it is called the Mahāyāna in name. If one can contemplate deluded thoughts as markless, it is called the Mahāyāna in contemplative practice. If coarse defilements first drop away and the six sense faculties are purified, it is called the Mahāyāna in resemblance; this treatise names it 'resemblance awakening'. If one can personally realize this essence, attribute, and function, advancing spontaneously, it is called the Mahāyāna in partial realization; this treatise names it 'partial awakening'. If one reaches the fundamental nature of the mind abiding eternally present before one, it is called the ultimate Mahāyāna; this treatise names it 'ultimate awakening'. The six are constantly identical, beginning and end being equal—this is precisely the aspect of tathatā of this mind. Identical yet constantly six, ascending and descending being vastly distinct—this is precisely the aspect of arising and ceasing of this mind. Therefore, the mind of all sentient beings is established as the subject to reveal the meaning of the Mahāyāna. The first section, explaining the meaning of 'great', is finished.