說無垢稱經疏 4.470

4.470

贊曰：下無垢稱答。不答總徵，但報別問。有三：初別答久近、次合答久近及滅位、後答病源。此初文也。問依次第，答遂義由，故不同也。有情生死無明為因，能發諸行有愛為緣，潤諸業故。生老死起無始流轉，眾生癡愛生來既久，我今此病亦無始生。

Commentary: Below is Vimalakīrti's reply. He does not reply to the general inquiry, but only responds to the separate inquiries. There are three: first, separately answering regarding duration; next, jointly answering duration and the stage of eradication; finally, answering the origin of the illness. This is the first passage. The questions followed an order, but the replies proceed according to their logical rationale, hence they do not correspond directly. The saṃsāra of sentient beings has ignorance (avidyā) as its cause, which can generate the volitional formations (saṃskāras); craving for existence (bhava-tṛṣṇā) acts as the condition, moistening the various karmas. Birth, old age, and death arise in beginningless transmigration; since sentient beings' folly and craving have arisen for so long, this present illness of mine has likewise arisen without beginning.