宗鏡錄 61.36

61.36

問。眾生善惡有三世。何世為機。聖法亦有三世。何世為應。過去已謝。現在不住。未來未至。悉不得為機。亦不得為應。云何論機應耶。

Question: The good and evil of sentient beings span the three periods of time; which period constitutes capacity? The noble Dharma also spans the three periods of time; which period constitutes response? The past has already ceased; the present does not abide; the future has not yet arrived. None can serve as capacity, nor can they serve as response. How then can capacity and response be discussed?