Digital Dictionary of Buddhism
無因有果
PronunciationsSenses:
There are also non-Buddhists who strongly assert that the myriad things ultimately have no basis. Therefore they are said to be without cause; yet we can clearly see the existence of all phenomena, so we should understand that there is such a thing as effect. It is, for, example like the story told by Zhuang Zhou (Zhuangzi 莊子), where Penumbra questions Shadow.1 The shadow exists based on the shape of something; the shape is based on creation, and since creation has no basis, it is originally independently existent, and thus it is not caused. Based on this, 'not having cause, but having effect' is asserted. 〔三論玄義 T 1852.45.1b24〕
[Charles Muller; source(s): Jizang]Notes
1. From the second chapter of the Zhuangzi (Discussion on the Equality of Things 齊物論). Penumbra asked Shadow: "Before you moved, now you stop. Before you sat, now you get up. Why are you so inconstant?" Shadow said: "Shall I wait before doing anything? Is what I am waiting for also waiting for something? Shall I wait for the scales of a snake, or the wings of a cicada? How do I know why it is so? How do I know why it isn't so?" Muller, trans., Zhuangzi, http://www.acmuller.net/con-dao/zhuangzi.html.[back]
[Dictionary References]
Bukkyō jiten (Ui) 1031
Bulgyo sajeon 227a
Iwanami bukkyō jiten 778
Bukkyōgo daijiten (Nakamura) 1314b
Ding Fubao {Digital Version}
Bukkyō daijiten (Oda) 705-1-12*1691-3
Copyright provisions
The rights to textual segments (nodes) of the DDB are owned by the author indicated in the brackets next to each segment. For rights regarding the compilation as a whole, please contact Charles Muller. Please do not reproduce without permission. And please do not copy into Wikipedia without proper citation!
Entry created: 2006-06-25
Updated: 2021-08-01