妙法蓮華經玄義 2.147

2.147

The words "prior to that" are broad; why must it be only immediately before the two lifetimes that he first emerged from the evil destinies? Furthermore, a bodhisattva of two lifetimes is near to one who succeeds to the [Buddha's] place; the position of one who succeeds to the place mostly belongs to the distinctive and perfect [teachings], in which such a thing never occurs. In the shared teaching, having reached the ground of seeing, one is already exempt from the evil destinies, and also does not fall. It must be that a bodhisattva of the tripiṭaka [teaching], when reaching two lifetimes, has still not severed delusions and only then understands the two truths; in this meaning there is no flaw. Prior to that, falling into the evil destinies is also meaningful.