大乘起信論略述 1.43

1.43

論。二者相大至性功德故　述曰。如來藏者有其二義。一者空。謂如來性空無念故。二不空。謂如來藏具性德故。此是眾生如來果性具二義故名之為藏。一攝故名藏。能攝果德。又為佛智所攝藏故。二隱故名藏。未出經時為諸煩惱所隱覆故。言功德者。智光明等照用曰功。離念曰德。而言性者。在真性故。本性有故。無異性故。言無量者。無數量故。無限量故。無心量故。即如來藏具足此相故名相大。

[Treatise:] The second is the greatness of attributes […] because of inborn virtues. [Exposition:] The tathāgatagarbha has two meanings: first, empty, meaning that the Tathāgata's nature is empty and free from thought; second, non-empty, meaning that the tathāgatagarbha is endowed with inborn virtues. This is the Tathāgata-fruition nature of sentient beings, and because it possesses these two meanings, it is called a "garbha" (storehouse). First, it is called a storehouse because of containment: it can contain the fruitional virtues, and is furthermore contained and stored by the Buddha's wisdom. Second, it is called a storehouse because of concealment: before emerging [from the defilements], it is hidden and covered by the various afflictions. As for "virtues": the illuminating function of wisdom-light and so forth is called "merit" (guōng); being free from thought is called "virtue" (dé). As for saying "inborn" (xìng): it is within the true nature, it exists in the fundamental nature, and it has no disparate nature. As for saying "immeasurable": it has no numerical measure, it has no finite limit, and it has no mental measurement. Because the tathāgatagarbha is fully endowed with these attributes, it is called the greatness of attributes.