法華經義記 2.80

2.80

Furthermore, to interpret the meaning of cause and condition, someone explained: "Cause is close and condition is distant. Why is cause called close? This fruition originally did not exist and now exists; this is the meaning of 'close.' Why? Because it can cause what originally did not exist now to exist. That it is further designated as 'distant' is simply like this: for this fruition, having two heads and three hands cannot be produced; in the inherent principle, there is the principle of being able to be produced." If you say that what cannot be produced in principle can be produced by the power of cause, then since two heads and three hands cannot be produced, why does the power of cause not produce them? If the power of cause cannot make what cannot be produced be produced, only then can cause be designated as close. Since fruition has the principle of being producible, cause becomes distant in relation to fruition; this fruition originally did not exist and now exists, so this cause is 'close' in relation to fruition; fruition has the principle of being producible, so this cause constitutes 'condition' in relation to fruition. Now Dharma Master Guangzhai explains without adopting the meaning of close and distant; he directly says: stating 'cause' takes corresponding to fruition as its meaning; 'condition' simply takes relying upon as its meaning. If viewed from the myriad practices toward fruition, there is the meaning of corresponding to fruition, which is designated as 'cause'; if viewed from fruition toward the myriad practices, this fruition is obtained by means of the myriad practices, which in relation to fruition is the meaning of 'condition.'