大乘起信論裂網疏 4.50

4.50

差別緣者，謂諸眾生從初發心乃至成佛，蒙佛菩薩等諸善知識隨所應化而為現身，或為父母、或為妻子、或為眷屬、或為僕使、或為知友、或作冤家、或復示現天等形，或以四攝、或以六度，乃至一切菩薩提行緣，以大悲柔軟心、廣大福智藏，熏所應化一切眾生，令其見聞乃至憶念如來等形，增長善根。此緣有二：一、近緣，速得菩提故；二、遠緣，久遠方得故。此二差別復各二種：一、增行緣；二、入道緣。

"The differentiated condition refers to all sentient beings, from their initial resolve until they become Buddhas, receiving [the aid of] Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and other kalyāṇamitras who manifest bodies according to how they should be transformed—appearing as parents, wives and children, relatives, servants, close friends, or adversaries, or manifesting forms such as devas—employing the four means of embrace, the six perfections, and even all conditions of bodhisattva practice, perfuming all sentient beings who should be transformed with a gentle mind of great compassion and a vast treasury of merit and wisdom, causing them to see, hear, or even remember the forms of the Tathāgatas and others, thereby increasing their wholesome roots. This condition is of two kinds: first, proximate conditions, because they quickly attain bodhi; second, distant conditions, because they attain it only after a long time. These two differentiations are each further of two kinds: first, conditions that increase practice; second, conditions for entering the path."