釋摩訶衍論 3.38

3.38

The treatise says: As for the succession of before and after: the first is the characteristic of cessation; the second is the characteristic of alteration; the third is the characteristic of abiding; the fourth is the characteristic of arising. Such four characteristics have differences of decrease and increase following the measure of wisdom. What does this mean? Those in the stage of faith lack one and possess three; those in the stage of the three worthies lack two and possess two; within the ten grounds, in the ninth ground they lack three and possess one; in the tenth ground they lack a coarse part and possess a subtle part; and in the ground of the Tathāgata, the four characteristics are entirely absent, being ultimately pure. Therefore it is said that they have differences of decrease and increase.