大乘起信論廣釋卷第三．四．五 4.9

4.9

Treatise: "Sixth, the fundamental […] can leave it behind." / Commentary: That is, among the five intents, it is called the karmic consciousness; among the three subtle marks, it is the karmic characteristic of avidyā. Relying on fundamental avidyā, the mind is stirred; serving as the root of the other defilements, it is called fundamental karma. Defiling the pure mind, it is called a defilement. Relying on the tenth bhūmi, one generates the vajra-samādhi, severs the habituation of subtle thoughts, and enters the buddha-ground; attaining the vision of the mind's nature, the mind is constantly abiding. Therefore it is said: "Relying on the culmination of the bodhisattva grounds, upon entering the Tathāgata ground, one can leave it behind." Question: At the tenth bhūmi there is still the characteristic of karma; how could entering the eighth bhūmi leave behind the defilement of appearance? If it is said that leaving behind karmic consciousness means having no characteristic of seeing, how could the characteristic of seeing be left behind in the ninth bhūmi? Answer: In truth, the eighth and ninth bhūmis have not yet left behind appearance and seeing, just as the tenth bhūmi has not yet left behind the characteristic of karma. Speaking of leaving them behind does not mean leaving them behind ultimately. Just as at the stage associated with faith, although one is said to leave behind the first defilement, it is only temporarily suppressed and abandoned; here it should be understood similarly. Because these two defilements obstruct those bhūmis, their mere suppression is called leaving behind; it does not mean permanent severing. Therefore, the latter three defilements are severed only upon reaching buddhahood, for upon leaving these behind, the great mirror cognition arises. What is said below about the bodhisattvas knowing the coarse within the subtle is also spoken in terms of the coarse marks that manifest. If so, should all three subtle marks be the characteristic of arising? Answer: Initial stirring is called arising, hence only karmic consciousness is so; evolving and manifesting are not, so there is no contradiction in principle.