金剛經纂要刊定記 2.65

2.65

As for "the two causes" and so forth: The true body is realized through the preceding cause of wisdom, and the responsive body is realized through the preceding cause of merit. In the preceding passage it says, "therefore one must have the two adornments of merit and wisdom," etc., which is explaining the cause in terms of the fruit. Now it says, "therefore this elucidates," etc., which is explaining the fruit in view of the cause. Speaking in this way aims to cause sentient beings to cultivate the two kinds of causes and realize the two kinds of fruits. Now, the preceding five approaches follow one another in succession: the *Prajñā Sūtra* was originally spoken to eliminate the two attachments, hence there is the first; though the two attachments are dispelled, the two doubts still remain, hence there is the second; even granted that there are no doubts, how to deal with past karma? Hence there is the third; once evil karma is eradicated, the uncontaminated cause is accomplished, hence there is the fourth; once the cause is distinct, how far could the realization of the fruit be? Hence there is the fifth. From this, the great purport of the entire sūtra culminates in these five tiers.