What are the shengyin 生因 and liaoyin 了因? A discussion on the layering issues in fascicles 21–40 of the Mahāparinirvāṇa-mahāsūtra

This paper investigates the concepts of generative cause (shengyin 生因) and revealing cause (liaoyin 了因) in the Mahāparinirvāṇa-mahāsūtra (MPNMS), particularly in fascicles 21–40, to reveal the text’s stratification. Through comparative analysis with Indian Buddhist texts such as the Laṅkāvatārasūtra and Piṅgala’s commentary on the Mūlamadhyamakakārikā, as well as examination of historical translation records, the research identifies two distinct patterns in the usage of these terms: Pattern A, which aligns with traditional Indian causal frameworks connecting conditioned and unconditioned phenomena, and Pattern B, which introduces novel interpretations by equating generative and revealing causes with primary and conditional causes, and emphasizing Buddha-nature as a fundamental cause. These patterns suggest that the MPNMS underwent multiple stages of compilation, reflecting Dharmakṣema’s intermittent translation work and the integration of different doctrinal perspectives. The findings provide insights into the text’s formation and the development of Chinese Buddhist theories of causation, while also demonstrating a new method of textual criticism through doctrinal analysis.