大乘起信論略述 2.125

2.125

[Treatise:] "Passing through ten thousand eons, [faith is perfected... they can generate the aspiration on their own]..." [Commentary:] This clarifies the perfection of faith, answering the third question. "Passing through ten thousand eons, faith is perfected": this reveals the completion of practice in terms of the completion of time. That is, persons of the highest grade of fulfillment in the stages of faith cultivate the ten faiths over ten thousand eons, and only then is their faith perfected. "All buddhas and bodhisattvas teaching them to generate the aspiration": this clarifies the aspiration generated in terms of superior conditions. That is, relying on superior conditions, they generate three minds. As the *Daśabhūmika-vibhāṣā* mentions seven generations of aspiration, the first three correspond to this resolute generation of aspiration. "All buddhas and bodhisattvas teaching them to generate the aspiration" means teaching them to be mindful of suchness and generate the mind of wisdom. "Generating the aspiration on their own due to great compassion" means pitying the suffering of sentient beings and generating the mind of compassion. "Generating the aspiration on their own due to protecting the Dharma" means safeguarding wholesome dharmas and generating the profound mind.