The Lotus Sūtra 2.27

2.27

「舍利弗！如彼長者，雖復身手有力而不用之，但以慇懃方便勉濟諸子火宅之難，然後各與珍寶大車。如來亦復如是，雖有力、無所畏而不用之，但以智慧方便，於三界火宅拔濟眾生，為說三乘——聲聞、辟支佛、佛乘，而作是言：『汝等莫得樂住三界火宅，勿貪麁弊色聲香味觸也。若貪著生愛，則為所燒。汝速出三界，當得三乘——聲聞、辟支佛、佛乘。我今為汝保任此事，終不虛也。汝等但當勤修精進。』如來以是方便誘進眾生，復作是言：『汝等當知此三乘法，皆是聖所稱歎，自在無繫，無所依求。乘是三乘，以無漏根、力、覺、道、禪定、解脫、三昧等而自娛樂，便得無量安隱快樂。』

to sentient beings with my transcendent powers and the power of my

wisdom alone, without using skillful means, it will be impossible to

save them. Why is this? Because these sentient beings have not escaped

from birth, old age, illness, and death; anxiety, sorrow, suffering, and

distress; and are being burned in the blazing house of the triple world.

How would they be able to understand the Buddha’s wisdom?

“O Śāriputra! Although that affluent man had physical strength he did not use it. He only earnestly employed skillful means to save his children from the disaster of the burning house, and later he gave each of them a large cart decorated with precious treasures. The Tathāgata is exactly like this.

“Although the Tathāgata has power and fearlessness he does not use them, but rescues sentient beings from the burning house of the triple world only through wisdom and skillful means, teaching the three vehicles to the śrāvakas, pratyekabuddhas, and the buddhas, saying:

Do not take pleasure in living in this burning house of the triple world.

And do not thirst after inferior objects, sounds, smells, flavors, and

tangibles. If you are attached to these objects and have desires, then

you will be burned. Leave the triple world in haste and you will obtain

the three vehicles—the vehicles for the śrāvakas, pratyekabuddhas,

and buddhas. I definitely guarantee this to you. In the end it will come

true. You should be diligent and persistent!

“The Tathāgata attracts sentient beings through this skillful means, saying further:

You should know that the Noble Ones praise the teachings of these

three vehicles that are self-directed, unrestricted, and independent.

When they ride in them, sentient beings will enjoy faculties free from

corruption and also powers, paths to enlightenment, meditation, lib-

eration, and concentration. And they themselves will attain immeas-

urable ease and pleasure.

“O Śāriputra! Those beings, wise by nature, who accept the Dharma from the Buddha Bhagavat, who are diligent, persistent, and wish to escape from the triple world quickly, and who are seeking nirvana, are all practicing the śrāvaka vehicle. They are like those children who left the burning house seeking the cart yoked to a sheep.

“Those beings who accept the Dharma of the Buddha Bhagavat, who are diligent and persevere in seeking the wisdom of the Self-generated One and enjoy tranquility for themselves, who profoundly know the causes of and reasons for existence, are all practicing the pratyekabuddha vehicle. They are just like those children who left the burning house seeking the cart yoked to a deer.

“Those beings who accept the Dharma of the Buddha Bhagavat, who are diligent and persevere in seeking the wisdom of the Omniscient One, the wisdom of the Buddha, the wisdom of the Self-generated One, the wisdom acquired without a teacher, the wisdom and insight, powers, and fearlessness of the Tathāgata; who are compassionate, put immeasurable sentient beings at ease, benefit devas and humans, and save all beings, are all practicing the Mahayana. Bodhisattvas are called mahāsattvas (great beings) because they seek this vehicle. They are just like those children who left the burning house seeking the cart yoked to an ox.