大乘起信論略述 2.5

2.5

Treatise: "This is also like that: [suchness is pure dharma, originally without defilement, yet when perfumed by ignorance, it possesses defiled characteristics; ignorance is a defiled dharma, originally without pure activity, yet when perfumed by suchness,] it then has pure function."
Exposition: This is the application to the doctrine. In the text it again reveals the meaning of defiled and pure perfuming. "Suchness is without defilement, yet when perfumed by ignorance it possesses defiled characteristics": because in the aspect of arising and ceasing original awakening and suchness are not definitely permanently uniform, when perfumed by ignorance they produce defiled characteristics. Since deluded perfuming lacks the function of reversing defilement, it only says "defiled characteristics" and does not speak of function. "Ignorance is not pure, yet when perfumed by suchness it has pure function": within the aspect of arising and ceasing, original awakening and suchness internally perfume non-awakening, causing it to develop revulsion and seeking, turning back against the stream to accord with reality; hence it is called "pure function." In truth, because a single consciousness contains these two meanings, they mutually perfume each other to universally produce defilement and purity; therefore it speaks of ignorance perfuming suchness, and so forth.