大乘起信論略述 2.4

2.4

Treatise: "As for the meaning of perfuming: [it is like clothing in the world, which originally has no fragrance; yet if a person uses perfume to permeate it,] then it has a fragrant scent."
Exposition: Next below is the extensive explanation of the meaning of perfuming. In this there are two parts: first, general; later, distinct. The [general] also has two parts: first, metaphor; later, application. This is the first part. Here, the "clothing" interchangeably serves as a metaphor for suchness and ignorance; and the mention of "fragrance" applies generally to both good and bad, and accordingly also serves as a metaphor for suchness and ignorance, as each mutually serves as perfumer and perfumed to produce a scent.