金剛般若論會釋 1.28

1.28

Question: "Why did the previous question ask only about arousing the Mahāyāna mind in the cause—first, the arousal of mind in the lineage of the stage of faithful practice, and next, the three meanings within the arousal of mind in realization at the pure-mind stage—without asking about the Buddha stage, whereas the Buddha's answer answered regarding the Tathāgata stage?" Answer: "The three practices in the cause are the cause of the three virtues of the Buddha stage; if one does not answer with the three bodies and three virtues of the Buddha, making the fruition stage evident, how could one encourage practice? Because of the three practices in the cause, he took the occasion to answer with the three bodies of the Buddha, as the earlier ones lead to the later ones. Furthermore, the questioner asked about what can be cultivated, cultivation applying to both ordinary beings and nobles, and to present and future stages of cultivation; the answerer answered with what was previously realized, realization applying to both cause and fruit, and to present realization."