大乘起信論裂網疏 2.19

2.19

Tathatā is the real nature of all dharmas, the real nature of all speech, and the real nature of all thought; hence it originally does not exist outside of all dharmas, all speech, and all thought. However, by being immutable yet according with conditions, its entire essence becomes the speaker and the spoken, the thinker and the thought. According with conditions yet immutable, all speakers, what is spoken, thinkers, and what is thought are tathatā, their nature being eternally equal without distinction. Sentient beings do not know this, and within the equal dharma of tathatā, falsely reckon the speaking, spoken, thinking, and thought to be real existents; this is contrary to tathatā, yet ultimately does not fall outside the nature of tathatā, which may also be called compliance at the stage of principle. If, right within these deluded thoughts, one hears the Mahāyāna teaching and is able to know their lack of intrinsic nature, this is compliance at the stage of names and words. If one causes this knowledge to continue thought after thought to form wisdom born of reflection, this is compliance at the stage of contemplative practice. If one causes this knowledge to become naturally mature to form wisdom born of cultivation, this is compliance at the stage of resemblance. If, on the basis of this knowledge, one helps arouse the wondrous observing wisdom to contact and realize tathatā, this is the complete exhaustion of deluded thoughts, which is compliance at the stage of partial realization, further named 'awakening-entry.'