俱舍論記 6.84

6.84

「由因增長至為未來因」者，答。由因漸漸增長，及由鈍、利根，故等、勝為因，非由地有上、下令道勝劣。謂見道等三道、下下品等九品，於後後位中因轉增長。此釋由因增長，鈍、利為因。次前具明，故不別釋。及由根故，但釋妨難。修道、無學道，時長相顯，不別釋妨；見道時速相隱，故別釋妨。於見道位，雖一相續中無容可得隨信、隨法二道俱起，而已生隨信行為未來隨法行因。

"Regarding 'Due to the gradual increase of the cause... serves as a cause for the future':" this is the answer. Due to the gradual increase of the cause, and due to dull and sharp faculties, it serves as a cause for the equal and superior; it is not that the path is made superior or inferior by the levels being higher or lower. That is to say, among the three paths—the path of seeing and so on—and among the nine grades—the lowest-of-the-lowest and so on—the cause progressively increases in subsequent stages. This explains 'due to the gradual increase of the cause'; serving as cause for dull and sharp has been fully explained immediately prior, so it is not separately explained here. As for 'and due to faculties', this merely resolves an objection. For the path of cultivation and the path of the non-learner, the duration is long and the characteristics are obvious, so no objection is separately resolved; for the path of seeing, the time is swift and the characteristics are hidden, so an objection is separately resolved. In the stage of the path of seeing, although it is impossible for the two paths—that following by faith and that following by Dharma—to arise together in a single mental continuum, nevertheless an already-arisen practice following by faith serves as a cause for a future practice following by Dharma.