大乘起信論廣釋卷第三．四．五 5.41

5.41

[Treatise:] "Namely, by means of the wisdom corresponding to a single thought ... benefiting sentient beings." [Commentary:] This specifically reveals the fulfillment of virtue. "Namely, by means of..." reveals the virtue of self-benefit; that is, the preceding true mind accomplishes this all-aspects cognition (sarvākārajñatā). This means that at the moment of the preceding true mind, when initial awakening reaches the source of the mind and accords with original awakening, it is called the wisdom corresponding to a single thought. Because avidyā is exhausted in this original awakening, its manifestation and illumination of all phenomena is called all-aspects cognition. Alternatively, the wisdom corresponding to a single thought is the unobstructed path (ānantaryamārga), which in an instant accords with the principle and severs all defilements; therefore, it can cause avidyā to be instantly exhausted and is called all-aspects cognition. This is the path of liberation (vimuktimārga), because in the path of liberation all-aspects cognition is perfected. Relying on what is taught in treatises such as the *Buddhabhūmi-śāstra*, all-knowledge (sarvajñatā) is the fundamental cognition, and all-aspects cognition is the post-attainment cognition. In the *Mahāprajñāpāramitā-sūtra*, both the fundamental and the post-attainment may be called all-aspects cognition; hence that text says: "All-knowledge, path-aspect knowledge, and all-aspects cognition." Since the first two are correlated with the śrāvakas and bodhisattvas, all-aspects cognition is shown only for the Tathāgata. Here it is also like this; therefore the wisdom attained in the path of liberation is called all-aspects cognition. From "spontaneously" onward reveals the virtue of benefiting others; that is, the preceding mind of expedient means accomplishes these effortless, inconceivable activities that benefit sentient beings. Alternatively, the first text is the attribute of the purity of wisdom, and the subsequent text is inconceivable activity; both are accomplished by original awakening in accordance with defilement.