大乘起信論廣釋卷第三．四．五 4.43

4.43

[Treatise:] "Question: If it is as [...] equally enter nirvāṇa?" [Commentary:] Next, dispelling doubts: first, the question; later, the reply. This is the question. "All sentient beings all have..." and so forth: first, raising the doctrine to be challenged. "How is there faith and lack of faith..." and so forth: next, presenting the contradiction and raising an objection. "Faith and lack of faith": this points out the presence or absence of faith at the stage of ordinary beings. "Difference in earlier and later": this points out the differences in understanding and practice upon entering the stages. Therefore, the new translation of the Treatise says: "From the initial resolve up to nirvāṇa, there are many differences of earlier and later, and so forth." "All ought to simultaneously..." and so forth: properly stating the challenge. Since internal perfuming is equal, how could there be differences? Since there are differences, how can one speak of equal perfuming?