止觀輔行傳弘決 8.41

8.41

From "If in seated meditation..." downward, it next explains the appearance of marks. First, in explaining the appearance of the mark of the retribution effect, when it says "mutually take each other's names," this means that when this mark arises, it is called the mark of the effect. Because the former retribution cause ought to draw forth the future effect, it is called the retribution effect. The phrase "may also be called the retribution cause" means that this retribution effect may also be called a cause, because it has not yet repaid the cause. Therefore, the phrase "and furthermore, able to..." downward clarifies that when this mark of retribution effect appears, it is precisely the cause that is able to give rise [to it]. Since this cause will certainly bring about the future effect, this mark may also be called the retribution cause. The phrase "Now, merely..." downward judges the mark. The mark of the subsequent retribution effect appears in advance at present; therefore it is merely called the appearance of the mark of the retribution effect, which is why it is said that they "mutually take each other's names." Next, from "If in seated..." downward, it explains the mark of the manifestation of the habitual cause. Therein it also says "mutually take each other's names": when this habitual mind of contaminated cause arises, it is called the habitual cause. The phrase "able to lead to..." downward means that it is able to bring about the perfected habitual effect at a later time. The phrase "may also be called the habitual effect" clarifies that when this mind of habitual cause arises, because it has arisen in the past, it is said to "repay the past." Then this mark may also be called an effect, which is called "mutually taking each other's names." One should know that here, both habitual cause and retribution effect are said to mutually take each other's names in terms of the appearance of their marks. If taken as in the *Abhidharma*, where the habitual effect of the present life is a cause in relation to retribution, and the habitual effect of an intervening life is a cause in relation to what follows, although this is also called "mutually taking each other's names," its meaning and import differ from the present appearance of marks. If one takes this meaning to judge obscurations and perfections, then although good and evil are different, their marks can be seen.