大乘起信論略述 1.43

1.43

[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.