大般涅槃經集解 70.31

70.31

Sengliang states: "Generative is proximate, revealing is remote. The characteristics of causes are fixed: the proximate cannot be remote, and the remote cannot be proximate. 'Is this the characteristic of a cause?' Remote [causes] do not generate fruitions; although unable to generate fruitions, the meaning of a remote cause functions as revealing. 'No, Gautama!' As to whether cause and fruition have identical or different characteristics: with a generative cause they are identical, but with a revealing cause they are different." Baoliang states: "Judging by this, it is not concerned with debating principle, but simply aims to confound and refute him."