大乘義章 1.75

1.75

問曰：此續為在於前、為在於後？既云相續，寧容偏在？又問：此續云何名假？釋有兩義：一據兩邊迭相假籍，得成續義，故說為假。相狀云何？如前念法，假後念故，前得成續；後念之法，假前念故，後得成續。相假成續，名相續假，此是一義。第二義者，兩邊雖異，續成一法。一法假彼前後兩邊相續而成，故名為假。

Question: Does this continuity reside in what precedes, or does it reside in what succeeds? Since it is called 'mutual continuity', how could it reside on one side only? Another question: Why is this continuity called 'provisional'? Explanation: There are two meanings. First, based on the two sides mutually relying upon one another, the meaning of continuity is achieved, and therefore it is spoken of as provisional. What is its characteristic? For example, because the dharma of a preceding thought-moment relies on the succeeding thought-moment, the preceding achieves continuity; because the dharma of a succeeding thought-moment relies on the preceding thought-moment, the succeeding achieves continuity. Mutually relying to constitute continuity is called provisionality of continuity; this is the first meaning. The second meaning is that although the two sides are different, they continue so as to constitute a single dharma. Because a single dharma relies on those two sides before and after continuing to be constituted, it is therefore called provisional.