妙法蓮華經玄義 8.87

8.87

引此三喻者，前喻根性。根性有淺深，淺得其空，深得其假，又得其中。次、喻三情：初、情但出苦，不志求佛道，見真即息。次、情歷別，不能圓修。後者、廣大遍法界求。第三、喻三方便：二乘方便少，守金而住；別教方便弱，止能嚴飾營生；圓教方便深，故能吞雲納漢。

Citing these three analogies: the first is an analogy for spiritual faculties. Spiritual faculties have shallow and deep: the shallow attain its emptiness; the deep attain its provisional, and further attain its middle. Next is an analogy for the three dispositions: the first disposition only seeks to escape suffering, does not aspire to seek the Buddha path, and rests upon seeing the true; the next disposition proceeds through distinctions and cannot cultivate in a round and integrated manner; the last is vast and great, seeking everywhere throughout the dharma realm. The third is an analogy for the three kinds of skilful means: the two vehicles have few skilful means, abiding by safeguarding the gold; the distinctive teaching's skilful means are weak, only able to adorn and manage affairs; the perfect teaching's skilful means are profound, therefore able to swallow clouds and encompass the Milky Way.