大乘起信論廣釋卷第三．四．五 4.22

4.22

[Treatise:] Just as the wind, depending on water, [has the characteristic of movement; if the water ceases, the characteristic of wind ceases, and there is nowhere for it to depend; but because the water does not cease, the characteristic of movement continues; only when the wind ceases does the characteristic of movement cease, not the water ceasing.]
[Commentary:] Adducing a simile. In the text there are four sections, using similes to answer the two questions. 'Just as the wind, depending on water, has the characteristic of movement' is the simile of the false arising depending on the real. 'If the water ceases,' and so forth, is the simile of the false following the cessation of the real. 'Because the water does not cease,' and so forth, is the simile of the real persisting and the false continuing. These three passages of text are similes answering the former question. 'Only when the wind ceases,' and so forth, is the simile of the false ceasing while the real persists. This single passage is a simile answering the latter question. If one considers it subtly, its meaning becomes clear of itself.