法華經義記 6.41

6.41

問者言：「眾生有多種，自有惡習因所成眾生，自有惡報因所成眾生，自有善習因所成眾生，自有善報因所成眾生，今者為取何因所成眾生？」解釋者言：「不取兩惡因所成眾生以為能稟，但兩種善因所成眾生中，唯善習因所成眾生為能稟，不取善報因所成眾生為能稟也。何以故爾？善報因無有增長之義，故不取也；善習因所成眾生有增長義，是故取為能稟也。」

The questioner asks: “There are many kinds of sentient beings: there are sentient beings formed from causes of evil habits, there are sentient beings formed from causes of evil retribution, there are sentient beings formed from causes of good habits, and there are sentient beings formed from causes of good retribution. Now, which causes forming sentient beings are being taken?” The commentator explains: “It does not take sentient beings formed from the two evil causes to be that which can receive; but among sentient beings formed from the two kinds of good causes, it takes only sentient beings formed from causes of good habits to be that which can receive, and does not take sentient beings formed from causes of good retribution to be that which can receive. Why is this so? The cause of good retribution does not have the meaning of growth, and is therefore not taken; sentient beings formed from causes of good habits have the meaning of growth, and are therefore taken as that which can receive.”