大乘起信論廣釋卷第三．四．五 4.23

4.23

[Treatise:] Avidyā is also like this: [depending on the mental substance it moves. If the mental substance ceases, sentient beings would be severed and have nowhere to depend; because the substance does not cease, the mind can continue. Only when delusion ceases does the mental characteristic cease along with it, not the mind-cognition ceasing.]
[Commentary:] This is the application of the simile to the doctrine. 'Avidyā is also like this: depending on the mental substance it moves' reveals that apart from the mind it cannot move by itself. 'If the mental substance ceases, sentient beings,' and so forth, means: when objects cease, if the mental substance were to cease, then the wind of avidyā would have nowhere to depend upon to move; the root-substance of sentient beings—karmic, evolving, and manifesting [consciousnesses]—having nowhere to abide, would then also be severed and cease. 'Because the substance does not cease, the mind can continue' means: because when objects cease the substance does not cease, the non-corresponding mind can continue. Because avidyā ceases, objects cease; it is not because objects cease that avidyā ceases. By this meaning, when objects cease, the mind stirred by avidyā and the three subtleties continue. This reveals the meaning of the cessation of the corresponding mind, answering the first question. 'Only when delusion ceases does the mental characteristic cease along with it,' and so forth, means: when avidyā is exhausted, the moving characteristics such as karma are exhausted; it is not that the tranquil mental substance also ceases along with them. This reveals the meaning of the cessation of the non-corresponding mind, answering the latter question. Here, 'delusion' is avidyā. The phrase 'mind arising' is the nature of the true mind. Previously, to reveal the meaning of arising-and-ceasing and non-arising-and-ceasing in the one consciousness, awakening and non-awakening were spoken of. Now, to reveal the meaning of substance and characteristic within the one mind, delusion and cognition are spoken of. Although the terms and meanings differ, their substance is not distinct.