[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [大乘起信論廣釋卷第三．四．五](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2814) › 5.28 # 大乘起信論廣釋卷第三．四．五 5.28 大乘起信論廣釋卷第三．四．五 5.28 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [5.28](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2814.5.28) 論。又是菩薩至自涅槃故　釋曰。此難實行也。一發心等者。於下不墮。證入十住名一發心。了人法空。誰生怯弱。常運悲智不墮二乘。故新論云。自利利他修行諸行。尚不畏墮二乘之地。況於惡道。若聞無量等者。於上不怯。得涅槃者。即成佛也。故新論云。聞多劫行方始得佛不驚怖等。依攝大乘有十難行。由能行故而不怯弱。信知已下怯所以。既知。諸法本來涅槃。雖久生死而不怯弱。豈同二乘厭苦欣滅。故新論云。何況有起二乘之心及墮惡道。由此彼經是權非實。若爾何故唯識等說有三退屈。由三練磨方得不退。言三退屈者。菩提廣遠屈。施等難修屈。轉依難證屈。言三練磨者。引他已證練。省已能修練。引麁次妙練。如其次第而為對治。由斯堅固方不退等。答。彼約法相顯過義說。此約法性顯德義論。彼約散心取相時言。此約定位離相時語。或即由此三種練磨。方能成此不怯弱等。由此二處義不相違。故攝大乘說。由定故行十難行。故成不退。 > The treatise states: "Furthermore, these bodhisattvas... their own nirvāṇa." Commentary: This demonstrates their actual practice. "From the moment of single resolve, etc." means they do not fall downward. Realising and entering the ten abidings is called "a single resolve." Having understood the emptiness of persons and dharmas, who would give rise to timidity? Constantly exercising compassion and wisdom, they do not fall into the Two Vehicles. Hence the New Translation says: "Cultivating all practices for benefiting self and others, they do not even fear falling into the ground of the Two Vehicles, let alone the evil destinies." "If they hear of immeasurable, etc." means they are not intimidated upward. "Attaining nirvāṇa" means becoming a buddha. Hence the New Translation says: "Hearing that only after cultivating practices for many kalpas does one first attain buddhahood, they are not startled or terrified." According to the Mahāyānasaṃgraha, there are ten difficult practices; because they are able to practice them, they are not timid. "Believing and knowing, etc." explains the reason they are not intimidated. Having known that all dharmas are originally nirvāṇa, although they remain long in saṃsāra, they are not timid. How could they be like the Two Vehicles, loathing suffering and rejoicing in cessation? Hence the New Translation says: "How much less would they give rise to the mind of the Two Vehicles and fall into evil destinies?" Thus, that sūtra is provisional, not definitive. If so, why do the Vijñaptimātratā and other texts state that there are three shrinkings back, and only through three temperings does one attain non-regression? The "three shrinkings back" are: shrinking back because bodhi is vast and distant; shrinking back because giving and the rest are difficult to cultivate; and shrinking back because the transformation of the basis is difficult to realise. The "three temperings" are: tempering by adducing what others have already realised; tempering by reflecting on one's own capacity to cultivate; and tempering by adducing the coarse followed by the subtle—acting as antidotes in that order. By becoming firm through these, only then do they not regress, and so on. The reply: That is spoken in terms of dharma-characteristics to show faults; this is discussed in terms of dharmatā to show virtues. That speaks of the time of a distracted mind grasping at marks; this speaks of the time of the determined stage free from marks. Or, it is precisely through these three temperings that they are able to achieve this lack of timidity and so on. Thus, the meaning in both places is not contradictory. Hence the Mahāyānasaṃgraha says that due to concentration they practice the ten difficult practices, and thus achieve non-regression. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 5.27](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2814.5.27) - [Next: 5.29](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2814.5.29) - [Up: 5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2814.5) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2814~en-mt.5.28) — English, machine translation ## Linked texts (2) - [大乘起信論裂網疏](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1850.5.79) — Classical Chinese - [大乘起信論略述](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2813.2.146) — Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2814.5.28](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2814.5.28) · Pramāṇa