大乘起信論略述 1.100

1.100

[Treatise:] Furthermore, the essence of awakening... is like a pure mirror.
[Commentary:] The second part, which begins below, treats original awakening in terms of the purity of its nature. Within this, there are two parts: first, a general introduction; second, a specific explanation. This is the first part.
The preceding section clarified the aspect of original awakening conforming to movement, and therefore spoke of its conforming to defilement. The present section clarifies the aspect of original awakening being unmoving, and therefore speaks of the purity of its nature. Since these two kinds of original awakening have no distinct essence, this shows that original awakening is unmoving and yet moves, moves and yet is unmoving.
Because the essence of awakening has four great pure meanings, it is equal to space and like a pure mirror. The four meanings of original awakening will be explained below. The four meanings of space are: (1) being empty of all marks, (2) being able to contain all things, (3) being free from defilement and manifesting pure space, and (4) manifesting all things. The four meanings of a mirror are: (1) being empty of external objects, (2) possessing an essence that contains all forms, (3) emerging free from all dust and defilement, and (4) manifesting forms to serve as functional use for things. By means of space and a mirror, suchness is thus illustrated.