大乘起信論廣釋卷第三．四．五 3.12

3.12

Treatise: If one attains non-thought, [one knows the arising, abiding, changing, and ceasing of the mind's characteristics, because they are equal to non-thought].

Commentary: This reveals the virtue of one who is awakened. What is meant here is that if delusion has not yet ceased, one does not know that the one mind is originally devoid of characteristics and thought. If one reaches the source of the mind and attains non-thought, one can know universally that because the minds of all sentient beings stir delusionally, [there appear] arising, abiding, changing, and ceasing, whereas the mind is originally unmoved and truly without arising and the rest. Therefore, the New Treatise says: "If delusional thoughts cease, one then knows that the characteristics of the mind—arising, abiding, changing, and ceasing—are all devoid of characteristics." "Because they are equal to non-thought" resolves the meaning above: the Buddha has attained non-thought, while sentient beings have thought; with such an immense separation between presence and absence, how can he know? Because the substance of non-thought is altogether equal. Although sentient beings have thoughts, their substance is precisely non-thought. The Buddha's substance of non-thought is equal to that, and therefore he can know universally that all thoughts are non-thought. The New Treatise lacks this phrase, and its meaning seems deficient.