成唯識論述記 3.18

3.18

The Commentary states: That 'cause and result may be simultaneous' refers to producing active manifestations; 'or not simultaneous' refers to producing their own class. Although they 'may be simultaneous or not simultaneous, they must be in the present to possess causal function,' because they have substance. If they enter the past, they lack causal function, because their substance has already ceased; the future is also like this: the causal function has not yet arisen, because they lack substance. Question: Since being a cause applies both to seeds and to that which possesses seeds, why does it say here 'existing simultaneously with the result'?