宗鏡錄 61.39

61.39

答。此以屬通意。今更別答者。只為過去惡。遮未來善故。勤斷過去惡。只為過去善不得增長。增長者。即未來善也。是故四正勤中。言雖過去。意實未來。

Answer: This belongs to the general meaning. Answering specifically now: precisely because past evil obstructs future good, one diligently severs past evil; precisely because past good cannot increase and grow—and its increasing and growing is indeed future good—therefore, in the four right exertions, though the words refer to the past, the intent is truly on the future.