大乘起信論略述 1.89

1.89

[Treatise:] "Yet in reality there is no… identical to the one awakening."

Commentary: This is the third part: the initial is not different from the original. Within the text are indication and explanation. "Yet in reality there is no difference in initial awakening" indicates that initial awakening is not different from original awakening. From "Because the four phases…" downward explains and establishes its meaning: because those four phases have no separate intrinsic essence by which earlier and later can be distinguished, it says "simultaneously"; because they exist earlier and later based on the temporal differences of awakening to coarse and subtle thoughts, it says "yet there are"; because apart from the mind there is no intrinsic nature of simultaneousness, earlier, or later that can be established, it says "none can stand independently"; because apart from the mind there is no nature, they are identical to the one awakening, and hence it says "originally identical to the one awakening," and so forth. The general purport here is: since awakening to the four phases is called initial awakening, when what is awakened to does not exist, that which awakens also does not exist; therefore there is no initial awakening different from original awakening.