大乘起信論略述 1.153

1.153

The treatise says: "Because of failing to comprehend the single realm of reality […] it is called avidyā." Dankuang explains: This reveals the cause of the conditioned arising of avidyā, explaining the meaning of the earlier phrase "yet there is avidyā." Because there is failing to comprehend non-thought, and being unconcorded with the realm of reality, mind serves as the source of all defilements, and hence is called avidyā. The realm of reality is free from thought, and hence is called "one"; being deluded, thoughts arise, which is called "failing to comprehend." This is the subtlest delusion identical with the mind, having not yet any distinction between subject and object or mental king and mental factors, and thus is termed "unconcorded." This should properly be called the "unconcorded mind"; it does not mean unconcorded with the mind. Only this can be the source of all defilements; there is no subtler defilement that could serve as its basis. Therefore it is said that "thoughts suddenly arise"; this does not explain "sudden arising" in terms of a temporal period, because this arising of avidyā has no initial beginning.