俱舍論頌疏論本 6.26

6.26

“Arising prior within its own category and stage”: The words “within its own category” mean that among similar phenomena, one only takes its own category as a cause of homogeneous class; not all similar phenomena are causes of homogeneous class. “Category” refers to the five categories, namely, that which is abandoned by the vision of suffering up to that which is abandoned by cultivation. Here, that which is abandoned by the vision of suffering only serves as a cause of homogeneous class for that which is abandoned by the vision of suffering, up to that which is abandoned by cultivation only serving as a cause of homogeneous class for that which is abandoned by cultivation. The words “its own stage” exclude other stages within its own category. Within its own category, one only takes its own stage as a cause of homogeneous class, not other stages. “Stage” refers to the nine stages, namely, the desire realm, the four dhyānas, and the four formless attainments. For example, what is abandoned by the vision of suffering in the desire realm only serves as a cause of homogeneous class for the desire realm, up to the peak of existence (bhavāgra) only serving as a cause of homogeneous class for the peak of existence; because the category-bindings of defiled phenomena are fixed, across different stages there is no causation. “Arising prior” means that within its own stage, one only takes what has arisen prior as a cause of homogeneous class. The past viewed relative to the present and future is called “arisen prior”; the present viewed relative to the future is called “arisen prior”; therefore, the words “arisen prior” only apply to the past and the present. If it belongs to the past period of time, it serves as a cause of homogeneous class for the present and the future; if it belongs to the present period of time, it serves as a cause of homogeneous class for the future.