妙法蓮華經玄贊 5.17

5.17

The commentary: This explains the reason. "The cause" refers to the causal practices that achieve great bodhi, namely the four bodhisattva practices across the seven stages: first, the factors of enlightenment; second, the pāramitās; third, the supernormal powers; fourth, maturing sentient beings. Therefore Kāśyapa said: "Toward the bodhisattva dharmas, sporting in supernormal powers, purifying buddha-lands, and maturing sentient beings, our minds had no fondness or joy." Thus the cause of correct awakening is precisely these four practices. "Dài" (待) has the meanings of awaiting, yearning for, and hoping for. Śāriputra said of himself: "If we had awaited, hoped for, and yearned for the causes of unsurpassed correct awakening, the Buddha would certainly have saved and liberated us by means of the Mahāyāna; but because we did not produce hope and expectation toward the great causes, the Bhagavat did not save and cross us over by means of the Mahāyāna." Alternatively, "cause" refers to the bodhicitta, briefly summarized as three kinds: first, revulsion toward the conditioned; second, seeking bodhi; third, deep mindfulness of sentient beings—which is "thus dwelling, thus practicing, and thus subduing their minds."