妙法蓮華經玄義 3.88

3.88

Now, explaining this with the meaning of the four teachings: The Tripiṭaka [teaching] possesses all three vehicles, yet all take the analytical wisdom contemplating the phenomena of twelvefold conditioned co-arising within the realm [of saṃsāra] as their initial gate. However, analytical wisdom is shallow and weak, and among the three persons, the śrāvaka is the most inferior. Using an inferior person to designate a shallow dharma, it is called 'inferior wisdom.' The shared teaching also possesses all three persons, who alike use embodied wisdom to contemplate the principle of twelvefold conditioned co-arising within the realm. Although embodying the dharma is profound, when compared to the Tripiṭaka it is skillful, yet when compared to the distinctive [teaching] it is not yet skillful. Among the three persons, the pratyekabuddha is the middle one. Using an intermediate person to name the shared dharma, it is called 'intermediate wisdom.' The Buddha and bodhisattvas of the distinctive teaching both know the phenomena of twelvefold conditioned co-arising beyond the realm. The sequential bodhisattva, compared to the Buddha, is still not superior, but compared to the shared and Tripiṭaka teachings it is a superior dharma; hence it is designated with the name 'superior wisdom.' The Buddha and bodhisattvas of the perfect teaching both contemplate the principle of twelvefold conditioned co-arising beyond the realm, where the initial mind finds the middle right in phenomena. Because this dharma is the most supreme, it is designated with the name of the Buddha; hence it is called 'contemplation with supreme wisdom.' Using the four teachings to explain the four contemplations conforms perfectly in meaning, and so forth.