【The Origin of Suffering】- Afflictions are primary causes for the creation of cyclic existence

【a" How the afflictions arise  
Karma and the afflictions are both necessary as causes for the creation of cyclic existence, but the afflictions are primary. [233]】

We have now come to understand that the real root of suffering stems from afflictions and karma.  "Afflictions" are called ignorance, or delusions.  "Karma" or compositional activities, they can be called a variety of names.  There are various names for that.  In brief, it is about these two things.  In the twelve dependent arising, it talks about ignorance and compositional activities.  These describe exactly these two things.  Or you can say they are craving, grasping and potential existence.  Craving and grasping are afflictions.  Potential existence is karma.  That's what they are.  So then even though these two things are required, but the primary one is the delusions, or the afflictions.   Let us read on.

【For, just as a seed without moisture, soil, etc. will not produce a sprout, so in the absence of afflictions—even though you have accumulated immeasurable karma in the past—  】

So why are afflictions the primary one?  That is, suppose your afflictions are gone, stopped.  Then, even if you have accumulated immeasurable karma in the past, even if they are countless, much like "seeds" in the absence of other conditions such as the soil, the moisture, and the sun, I'm sorry, they can't sprout.  They can't sprout.  They cannot issue the effects.  

SOURCE 来源 :

72B 23’41” Vol 9 of Master Jih-Chang’s Discourse P282 L8
English Lamrim Vol 1 P298

日常师父法语📡72B 23’41” 手抄稿第9册P282 L8

希求解脱 : 生死之因以惑为上首

【成办生死之因，虽俱须惑业，然以烦恼而为上首。】

现在了解了，说这个痛苦的真正的根本，在这个惑跟业。“惑”，或者叫无明，或者叫烦恼；“业”，或者叫行，或者叫什么其他的种种的名字，有各式各样的不同的名字。总之一句话，这两样东西。十二因缘当中说无明、行这两个，就是这样；或者是爱、取、有，爱、取是惑，有是业，这样。那么，但是虽然要这两样东西呀，这个里面主要的却是惑，却是烦恼。下面看，

【若无烦恼，虽有宿业超诸量数，然如种子，若无润泽及其土等，定不发芽。】

为什么这烦恼为主要呢？就是说假定你的烦恼没有了，断掉了，虽然你有无量无边的宿业，数都不能数，但是就像“种子”一样，那个种子如果说没有其他的因缘—土呀、水呀、太阳呀！对不起，它长不出来，长不出来，这个不会感果的。