法華經義記 2.54

2.54

問者又言：「三教本詮於理，若三教下無有三理者，此教竟何所詮？若無所詮三理，亦應無有能詮三教。」解云：「應眾生實有三機，故昔日實有三教、實無三理，但昔三教為詮一理，昔日既未得說一實之理，是故假三乘言教遠詮今日一實之理，但昔說一因作三因其實是一因。下經文言『汝等所行是菩薩道』，故知無有三理，但有三種言教。前明權智即是開方便門，後明實智即是示真實相也。」

The questioner also asks: "The three teachings fundamentally expound principle. If beneath the three teachings there are no three principles, what in the end do these teachings expound? If there are no three principles to be expounded, then there should also be no three teachings that expound them." The explanation says: "Because in responding to sentient beings there truly are three capacities, formerly there truly were three teachings, but truly no three principles. The former three teachings were solely meant to expound the one principle. Since formerly the one real principle could not yet be spoken, verbal teachings of the three vehicles were provisionally employed to expound from afar today's one real principle. The past teaching merely made the one cause into three causes, yet in reality it is one cause. As the sūtra text below says, 'What you are practicing is the bodhisattva path.' Therefore we know there are no three principles, but only three kinds of verbal teachings. The previous explanation of expedient knowledge is precisely opening the gate of skilful means; the subsequent explanation of real knowledge is precisely revealing the real mark."