法華經義記 6.41

6.41

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.”