妙法蓮華經玄義 7.30

7.30

There are two kinds of sages: first, Hīnayāna sages; second, Mahāyāna sages. As the sūtra says: "If there are those who have truly attained arhatship and conceive the notion of extinction, should they encounter another buddha, they will then achieve resolution." Master Nanyue said: "One of the first refuge is called 'another buddha.' Because fundamental ignorance has not yet been shattered, they are termed 'another'; because they are capable of knowing the Tathāgata's secret treasury and profoundly awakening to the perfect principle, they are termed 'buddha.'" Those who have truly attained arhatship after the Buddha's extinction have not yet understood the provisional and the real. If they encounter one of the first refuge, they will then achieve resolution, accomplishing the benefit of resemblance and accomplishing the benefit of advancing to partial realization. This text provides past testimony that a teacher who is an ordinary being can propagate the sūtra for Hīnayāna sages so that they obtain benefit. The sūtra says: "When a person of purified six sense faculties preaches the Dharma, all the buddhas of the ten directions delight in seeing them and all preach the Dharma facing that place, and all the devas and nāgas, hearing what is preached, are filled with great joy." This is also a clear passage showing that an ordinary teacher preaches the Dharma for great sages.