大乘起信論略述 1.88

1.88

[Treatise:] "If one attains thoughtlessness… because thoughtlessness is equal."

Commentary: This reveals the virtue of one who has awakened. If delusion has not yet [ended], one does not know that the one mind is originally without phases or thoughts. If one reaches the source of the mind and attains thoughtlessness, one knows the differences among the four phases of the one mind's deluded stirring in sentient beings, while one's own mind has no stirring thoughts. "Because thoughtlessness is equal" explains the reason for knowing: the essence of sentient beings apart from thought is thoughtlessness; the Buddha's essence of thoughtlessness is equal to theirs, and therefore he can ubiquitously know that all thoughts are thoughtless.