法華經義記 4.58

4.58

The questioner says: "If an arhat still has birth and death and cannot enter nirvāṇa, then no non-learning practitioner can enter nirvāṇa without remainder, and it should not be said that the arhat's mind attains mastery." The interpreter says: "Hitherto, this has been determined by principle and by teaching. If one examines the actual principle, when have they ever entered [nirvāṇa] without remainder? The spiritual consciousness cannot be annihilated; speaking with respect to the teaching, they do attain entry into nirvāṇa. The former teaching did not state that there is still birth and death outside the three realms; therefore, by doubting principle on the basis of the teaching, they attain entry into nirvāṇa—this is precisely the meaning of the arhat's mind attaining mastery."