法華經義記 3.13

3.13

問者言：「三家解脫一等，不應有三車受別也。」解釋者言：「三家解脫所以一等者，同取三界因果盡無為，無為既不殊，是故皆詺作一解脫。所以有三車之喻、運因勝負者，此據力用有短有長，聲聞斷三界正使盡取譬羊車，緣覺侵少許習氣取譬鹿車，菩薩斷習都盡取譬牛車。」

The questioner says: “If the liberation of the three houses is of one equal grade, there ought not to be distinctions in their receiving the three carts.” The interpreter says: “The reason the liberation of the three houses is of one equal grade is that all alike take the unconditioned [state] wherein the causes and effects of the three realms are exhausted; since the unconditioned is not distinct, all are therefore designated ‘one liberation.’ As for why there is the parable of the three carts and differences in superior and inferior conveyed causes, this is based on their power and function having shorter and longer reaches. The śrāvakas exhausting the primary fetters of the three realms is likened to the goat cart; the pratyekabuddhas encroaching upon a small portion of residual propensities is likened to the deer cart; and the bodhisattvas exhausting the residual propensities altogether is likened to the ox cart.”