大乘起信論略述 1.7

1.7

Regarding explaining the treatise's text: there are two kinds in practice: first, explaining the title; second, expounding the text of the treatise. Explaining the title has three [parts]: first, explaining Mahāyāna; second, clarifying the awakening of faith; third, explaining the word 'treatise' (śāstra). As for 'Mahāyāna', it refers to the one mind. As for 'great', the name is established according to its essence, because it encompasses broadly. As for 'vehicle' (yāna), the appellation is established by resort to metaphor, because it can convey. That is, this one mind can contain the meanings of the two aspects, the three greatnesses, and so forth. Ordinary beings and noble ones, defiled and pure—there is nothing it does not encompass; therefore it is called 'great'. Through this, it can bring forth the ten thousand dharmas, convey ordinary beings to noble status, and convey cause to fruition; hence it is called 'vehicle'. Consequently, relying on the mind, all that which expresses and is expressed, and all that which realizes and is realized—teaching, principle, practice, and fruition—are all called Mahāyāna. Because [faith] is aroused relying on the Mahāyāna mind, it says 'awakening of faith'. 'Awakening' means to give rise to, meaning that the Mahāyāna teaching is that which can give rise to [faith]. 'Faith' has the characteristic of endurance, delight, and mental purity; it is that which is aroused. Because through the Mahāyāna teaching one arouses faithful mind and practice with respect to the supreme principle and fruition, it is called 'awakening of faith'. As for 'treatise', its meaning is definitive judgment: definitively judging and analyzing the meanings of principle, practice, and fruition to cause living beings to generate understanding; therefore it is called a 'treatise'. In summary, a treatise that can cause sentient beings to awaken faith in this Mahāyāna is called the Mahāyānśraddhotpādaśāstra. 'Composed by Bodhisattva Aśvaghoṣa' is as clarified in the gateway of the comprehensive commentary.