大乘起信論略述 1.140

1.140

論。以一切法至無相可得　述曰。此答也。文有七句。總分三節。即初三句正答前問。顯境唯心。以一切境皆是此心。隨熏所起更無異體。而見異者。但是由汝妄念而生。實無能見所見二相。故云一切皆從心起妄念而生。復有疑云。念不孤起。託境方生。既無異境。何所分別。故次二句釋此疑云。一切分別但取自心。非外分別。如依於面自見面像。夢中所見自見其心。妄情不了謂有所見。故云分別即分別自心。復有疑云。若謂分別。分別自心。是亦名為能見所見。何故前言無有二相。故後二句釋此疑云。為遮執境說見自心。實非以心而見心也。如彼指刀不自指割。況心不起何有見乎。以本真心無見相故。故言心不見心無相可得。

Treatise: Because all phenomena... no characteristic can be attained.
Commentary: This is the answer. The text has seven phrases, divided into three sections in total. The first three phrases directly answer the previous question, showing that sense-realms are only mind. Because all sense-realms are just this mind, arising in accordance with perfuming with no other separate essence, what is seen as different merely arises from your deluded thoughts; in reality there are no two characteristics of the able-to-see and the seen. Therefore it says, "All arise from the mind and are produced by deluded thoughts." Furthermore, there is a doubt: "Thoughts do not arise in isolation; they arise only by relying on sense-realms. Since there are no different sense-realms, what is there to discriminate?" Therefore, the next two phrases resolve this doubt, saying: All discrimination merely apprehends one's own mind, not external discrimination. Just as relying on a face one sees the image of one's face, or what is seen in a dream is seeing one's own mind, deluded sentiment fails to understand and thinks there is an object seen. Therefore it says, "Discriminating is just discriminating one's own mind." Furthermore, there is a doubt: "If it is said that discrimination discriminates one's own mind, this is also called the able-to-see and the seen; why did you say before that there are no two characteristics?" Therefore, the last two phrases resolve this doubt, saying: To ward off attachment to sense-realms, it is said that one sees one's own mind; it is not that the mind actually sees the mind. Just as a finger or a knife does not point at or cut itself, how much less could there be seeing when the mind does not arise? Because the original true mind has no characteristic of seeing, it says: "Mind does not see mind, and no characteristic can be attained."