法華玄論 2.181

2.181

Answer: The correct Dharma is truly not cause and fruit, but it opens the Dharma gate of cause and fruit for sentient beings, hence it is called the function; provisional and real are also like this. But the cause and fruit clarified now differ from the old cause and fruit. What is called the cause is complete with two causes: first, Buddha-nature; second, conditional causes. Because sentient beings possess Buddha-nature, by cultivating the myriad practices they can then achieve Buddhahood. What is called the fruit is also complete with two fruits: first, no virtue is not perfected; second, no encumbrance is not exhausted. This meaning appears in the Saddharmapuṇḍarīkopadeśa and will be explained later. Therefore it is said that the correct Dharma is the essence, and cause and fruit are the function.