妙法蓮華經玄義 10.92

10.92

自鹿苑開權，歷諸經教，來至《法華》，始得合實，故《無量義》云：「四十餘年，未顯真實。」若於法華未合，於涅槃得合，《法性論》明中、下二根入法界者，即是得合菩薩也。

From the opening of the provisional in the Deer Park, passing through the various sūtras and teachings, it is only upon arriving at the Lotus Sūtra that they are first merged with the real. Hence the Anantamukhanirhāra-dhāraṇī-sūtra says: 'For over forty years, the truth was not yet revealed.' If they are not merged in the Lotus Sūtra, they obtain merging in the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra. When the Dharmatā-śāstra explains that those of middling and lower capacities enter the dharma realm, it refers to bodhisattvas who obtain merging.