妙法蓮華經玄義 5.4

5.4

Regarding 'the name is shared and the meaning is perfect,' a later passage states: 'We today are true arhats; everywhere among them, we ought to receive offerings.' It also states: 'We today are true śrāvakas, causing all to hear with the sound of the buddha path.' These names are the same as those of the shared and tripiṭaka [teachings], yet the meaning is different. Why is this? Those [teachings] only slay the bandits of the four abodes, while ignorance still remains; their meaning of non-arising is biased. Thus the heavenly maiden said: 'Because your latent habits are not yet exhausted, the flowers cling to your bodies.' Now, both common and distinctive delusions are slain, attaining the Tathāgata's extinction; therefore, the meaning of 'slaying bandits' is perfect. Furthermore, theirs is the non-arising of fragmented [saṃsāra], while they are still born outside the realms. The *Ratnagotravibhāga* states: 'The two vehicles produce three kinds of mental aggregates in the taintless realm.' Now, neither fragmented nor transformational [saṃsāra] arises; thus the meaning of 'non-arising' is perfect. Those [teachings] are worthy of offerings within the realms, but not worthy of offerings outside the realms. The *Vimalakīrti* states: 'One who makes offerings to you is not called a field of merit'; thus the meaning of 'worthy of offerings' is biased. Now, everywhere among them, one ought to receive offerings; thus the meaning of 'worthy of offerings' is perfect. Those are merely the small vehicle hearing the sound of the four truths from another, so the sound is biased and the hearing is biased. Now, one can cause all dharma realms to hear the sound of the one real four truths and the buddha path, causing all to hear; thus the meaning of 'śrāvaka' is perfect. Therefore, one knows that by relying on the meaning rather than the words, one classifies stages according to the perfect [teaching].