大乘起信論略述 1.151

1.151

The treatise says: "Why is this? […] only a Buddha can know it." Dankuang explains: This explains the reason why it is extremely profound. In the text there is an inquiry and an explanation. The intent of the inquiry is: the profound principle of conditioned arising runs through both ordinary beings and nobles; why then is it now said that only one who has attained the fruition can see it? The answer has three parts: "This mind has from the beginning…" and so on clarifies that while identical with purity, it is constantly defiled; "although there is defiled mind, it is constantly unchanging" shows that while identical with defilement, it is constantly pure; "Therefore, this meaning can only be known by a Buddha" concludes by showing that it is difficult to fathom. In the first part there are three phrases: "This mind" refers to the mind of conditioned arising in original awakening. "From the beginning its intrinsic nature is pure" because its own essence is originally without defilement; this phrase generally indicates the causal essence of conditioned arising. "Yet there is avidyā" means that relying on the mental essence there is this avidyā; this phrase indicates the conditions and origin of conditioned arising. "Defiled by avidyā, there is defiled mind" means that the mental essence is defiled by this avidyā, so that in the pure mental essence there is this defiled mind; this phrase naturally reveals the characteristics of conditioned arising. "Although there is defiled mind, it is constantly unchanging" means that although this intrinsically pure mind is defiled, and constantly possesses defiled mind, it never loses its originally pure mental nature. For this reason, the principle of the conditioned arising of defilement and purity can only be known by a Buddha.