大乘起信論略述 1.97

1.97

[Treatise:] "Sentient beings' intrinsically pure mind… because the nature of cognition is not destroyed."

Commentary: This applies the simile to the doctrine. Herein, the preceding four similes are applied in order: 'Sentient beings' intrinsically pure mind…' applies to the first above, water moving in accord with the wind. Water does not billow of itself; it raises waves due to the wind. The wind does not wave of itself; it manifests waves relying on water. Therefore movement is just water, having no separate essence. The mind is also like this: it does not stir of itself, but stirs due to avidyā. Ignorance does not arise of itself; it has arising relying on the mind. Because of ignorance the mind stirs; there is no separate stirring. 'The mind and avidyā are both without physical form…' applies to the second above, the mutual reliance of wind and water. Because water relies on wind, its entire essence stirs, so there is no separate phase of water; because wind arises relying on water, its entire essence is wet, so there is no separate phase of wind. Wind and water rely on each other and do not abandon each other. The mind is also like this: relying on delusion, it stirs, entirely becoming the consciousnesses, so there is no separate phase of mind. The deluded consciousness relies on the mind, and there is nothing that is not true, so there is no phase of avidyā. The true and the deluded rely on each other and do not separate. 'Yet the mind is not by nature mobile' applies to the third above, water not being by nature mobile; this reveals that the mind's nature is originally not stirring thoughts. 'If avidyā ceases…' applies to the fourth above, the nature of wetness not being destroyed, revealing the severing of avidyā: just as when the wind ceases, dharmas such as the activity consciousness and the continuous consciousness cease like the phases of waves, while the nature of cognition that illuminates and examines in original awakening according with defilement is not destroyed, just as the nature of wetness is not destroyed.