妙法蓮華經玄義 7.51

7.51

Sixth, discussing the original source and the traces in terms of the present and the past: the phenomena and principles, and even the provisional and the real, already preached in previous teachings, are all traces. The long-past phenomena and principles, and even the provisional and the real, preached in the present sūtra, are all named the original source. Were it not for the long-past original source clarified at present, there would be nothing to manifest the traces already preached; were it not for the traces already preached, how could the present original source be revealed? Although original source and traces are distinct, they are an inconceivable unity. The text says: "After a long time, the Buddhas' Dharma must certainly preach the true reality."