大般涅槃經集解 22.42

22.42

Sengliang states: 'Except for an icchantika' is because they possess all three obstacles. What is possessing them? Not seeing cause and effect is the affliction obstacle; preaching that there is no cause and effect is the karma obstacle; accumulating evil lifetime after lifetime so that today one becomes an icchantika is the retribution obstacle. As for 'other beings who hear this sūtra': this refers to those of the four grave offenses and five heinous deeds. Although they have evil karma, when they hear the sūtra and produce faith, they must have planted merits long ago; it is not without cause. As for ordinary beings of inferior capacity who cannot hear it: this means that it does not pass through their ears, or even if they hear it, they do not produce faith.