大乘義章 7.27

7.27

次辨因緣。現報業中，若當一作而獲報者，但可名緣，不得名因，斯乃現緣助於過去不定報業得今果故。若當數作而得果者，得名為因，用其多作方名因故。論中宣說利而不重是現報業。現業得果，是甚難故，多作之者方得為因。若論生後不定報業，一作多作皆得為因，亦得為緣，經生業熟得果易故。於中親生說之為因，疎助他者說之為緣（此四門竟）。

Next, explaining causes and conditions. Among karma with retribution in the present [life], if one performs [an act] only once and obtains retribution, it can only be called a condition and cannot be called a cause, because this is a present condition that assists past karma of indeterminate retribution in obtaining a present fruit. If one performs it repeatedly and obtains the fruit, it can be called a cause, because only through repeated performance is it called a cause. The treatise explains that 'sharp yet not heavy' is karma with retribution in the present [life]. Karma in the present [life] obtaining a fruit is extremely difficult; therefore, only that which is done repeatedly can become a cause. If we consider karma with retribution in the next [life], subsequent [lives], or of indeterminate retribution, whether done once or repeatedly, it can always be a cause and can also be a condition, because having passed through a rebirth the karma has matured and obtaining the fruit is easy. Therein, what directly produces [the effect] is called a cause, while that which distantly assists another is called a condition (this concludes the fourth section).