________________
RELATION BETWEEN ACTIONS AND THEIR RESULTS
303
expressions as the Fire produces Smoke', 'the smoke comes into existence on the basis of Fire,' and so forth ? "
The answer to this is provided in the following
TEXTS (518-519). THOUGH THE THING IS REALLY INACTIVE, VET ON ACCOUNT OF THE RESTRICTION IMPOSED BY THE NATURE OF ITS CAUSE WHION CAME INTO EXISTENCE AT THE FIRST MOMENT, THERE APPEARS, IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS, SOMETHING COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE SECOND MOMENT; IT IS UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THE FORMER IS SAID TO PRODUCE THE LATTERSUCH ASSERTION BEING IN ACCORDANCE WITH A CONVENTION WHIOH IS PURELY ARBITRARY, BASED UPON THE WHIM OF THE SPRAKER.
—(518-519)
COMMENTARY. On account of the restriction imposed upon the potency of the Cause, arising from the Idea that gave rise to that Cause, a particular Effect is produced from the Cause which has appeared at the first moment,--this Effect being in contact withi-i.e. appearing at-the second moment; it is then that the said Cause' is said to produce the said Effect. The mention of producing is only by way of illustration; it should be understood to mean also that the Effect comes into existence on the basis of the Cause.
"Who are the people who speak of it as such ? "
Such assertion, etc. etc.'—that is, thus say those persons who act in accordance with conventions based entirely upon the speaker's wish, irrespectively of external realities.-(518-519)
Question "If & thing, on coming into existence, did not become operative, how could it become the Cause in the bringing about of a particular effect? " Answer :
TEXT (520). WHAT WOULD BE THE GOOD OT ANY ACTIVITY AT ANY TIME OTIER THAN THAT OF ITS OWN BIRTH Murn existence IS THE ONLY OPERATION, AS IT IS WHEN THIS IS THERE THAT THE EFFECT
APPEARS.—(520)
COMMENTARY. Inasmuch as the Effect is produced immediately after the Cause has come into existence, any operation of that Cause on this Effect, after the latter
