妙法蓮華經玄贊 1.6

1.6

First, responding to causes has six aspects: first, responding to the cause of practice; second, responding to the cause of vows; third, responding to the cause of seeking; fourth, responding to the cause of upholding; fifth, responding to the cause of signs; sixth, responding to the cause of expounding. The fruit of Buddhahood cannot be attained in vain; it must be achieved through deeds and practices. Practice does not arise in isolation; it must be supported and generated by vows. Although practice and vows arise of themselves, without conditions they cannot coalesce on their own; though encountering conditions to seek it earnestly, the fruition is not achieved precipitously. One must rely on upholding and studying to finally attain the fruit; once the fruit is attained in full, one prepares to set it forth to respond to beings. To express the profound marvel of the sūtra's central theme, he first displayed the causes of the great signs; once the great signs were revealed, in principle he had to proclaim it; therefore, it is stated that the Buddha originally appeared in the world for one great matter. Thus, responding to causes is endowed with these six meanings.