大乘起信論略述 2.125

2.125

論。經一萬劫至能自發心　述曰。此明信成。答第三問。經一萬劫信心成就者。此約時滿顯行成也。即是信位上品滿人。於十千劫修十信心。而其信心方成就故。諸佛菩薩教發心者。此約勝緣明所發心也。謂依勝緣發三心故。唯十住論有七發心者。前三是此決定發心。諸佛菩薩教發心者。教念真如發惠心也。以大悲故自發心者。愍眾生苦發悲心也。以護法故自發心者。守護善法發深心也。

[Treatise:] "Passing through ten thousand eons, [faith is perfected... they can generate the aspiration on their own]..." [Commentary:] This clarifies the perfection of faith, answering the third question. "Passing through ten thousand eons, faith is perfected": this reveals the completion of practice in terms of the completion of time. That is, persons of the highest grade of fulfillment in the stages of faith cultivate the ten faiths over ten thousand eons, and only then is their faith perfected. "All buddhas and bodhisattvas teaching them to generate the aspiration": this clarifies the aspiration generated in terms of superior conditions. That is, relying on superior conditions, they generate three minds. As the *Daśabhūmika-vibhāṣā* mentions seven generations of aspiration, the first three correspond to this resolute generation of aspiration. "All buddhas and bodhisattvas teaching them to generate the aspiration" means teaching them to be mindful of suchness and generate the mind of wisdom. "Generating the aspiration on their own due to great compassion" means pitying the suffering of sentient beings and generating the mind of compassion. "Generating the aspiration on their own due to protecting the Dharma" means safeguarding wholesome dharmas and generating the profound mind.