大乘起信論略述 1.9

1.9

[Treatise:] "In order to cause sentient beings... so that the lineage of Buddhas may not be interrupted." / [Exposition:] This explains the intention. It refers to stating the intention behind composing the treatise before the Triratna. The four lines of the text correspond to four meanings: / The first line reveals the sentient beings for whose sake it is composed. Although sentient beings are numerous, they do not exceed three categories: 1. the group fixed in delusion, those prior to the ten thousand kalpas who have not yet awakened faith; 2. the unfixed group, those within the ten thousand kalpas whose faith is not yet determined; 3. the group fixed in truth, those after the ten thousand kalpas who are in the stages of the ten abidings. Now, this phrase "in order to cause sentient beings" is directed primarily to the people of the intermediate unfixed group, to cause their faith to become definitive. It also secondarily extends to sentient beings of both the deluded and the true groups, causing them to develop faith in the future and to increase in understanding and practice. / This line reveals the obstacles that are to be eliminated. Obstacles are of two kinds: doubt and attachment. Due to doubt, one is confused about suchness and thus loses true joy. Because of attachment, delusion arises and plants the causes of suffering. Therefore, later in the treatise, in "Revealing the Correct Meaning" and "Explaining the Fundamental Meaning," it causes one to awaken to true joy; in "Remedying Pernicious Attachments," it distances one from the view of a personal self, causing one to abandon the causes of suffering. Hence it says, "eliminating doubt and abandoning pernicious attachments." / Next, the third line reveals the virtues and stages that are accomplished: causing sentient beings, by relying on the Mahāyāna teaching, contemplating the Mahāyāna principle, and responding to the Mahāyāna fruition, to awaken correct faith and practices in the Mahāyāna. Hence it says, "awakening correct faith in the Mahāyāna." Correct faithful practices refer to the three kinds of arousing the aspiration, the four faiths, and the five practices explained later in the treatise. It is called "faith" because it overturns the former doubt; it is called "correct" because it overturns the former error. / The last line reveals the stage that is entered. It seeks to cause them to enter into the stage of the lineage and definitely succeed to the fruition of Buddhahood. By relying on the Dharma, they cause their own lineage of Buddhas to continue, and they are able to explain it to others, causing the Dharma to continue and preventing the lineage of Buddhas in others from being cut off. Because the three kinds of Buddha-nature—oneself, others, and the correct Dharma teaching—are continued, it says: "so that the lineage of Buddhas may not be interrupted."