大乘起信論廣釋卷第三．四．五 5.74

5.74

Treatise: "Practicing for a long time until pure and mature... quickly achieve non-retrogression."
Commentary: This is, among the superior persons who are able to enter, the perfection of calming, attaining absorption, removing obstacles, and not stopping. "Practicing for a long time," etc., explains the perfection of calming. It must be through continuous practice that one abides spontaneously; "abiding spontaneously" is the meaning of calming being perfected. "Because the mind..." etc., explains attaining absorption. When the power of calming increases further, it is called "gradually vigorous and sharp." Since it accords with tathatā, one enters the true samādhi. "Deeply subduing..." etc., shows that entering the stage of absorption accords with the real: manifest afflictions are permanently subdued, defilement is extinguished and good arises, which is called "the growth of faith." Through this, one can quickly reach the stage of non-retrogression.