妙法蓮華經玄義 7.43

7.43

Therefore we know that although the various teachings all possess the provisional and the real, the provisional and the real differ: some are completely real, some are completely provisional, and some combine both provisional and real; all are adapted to the dispositions of capacities, the conditions and the principle not yet being merged. Now comprehensively classifying the provisional and the real in terms of the teachings: in terms of the tripiṭaka, shared, and distinctive teachings, the three teachings are provisional, and the perfect teaching is real. Furthermore, the provisional and the real of the various teachings, when not yet merged, are provisional; once merged, opening the provisional to reveal the real is the real. Now the Lotus Sūtra is the one perfect teaching, hence it is real; also, because it opens the provisional, it is real. If speaking in terms of the perfect teaching: illuminating the thirty coarse [aspects] of the previous three teachings is provisional, and illuminating the ten subtle is real. If speaking in terms of opening the provisional and perfect merging: determining that the thirty coarse [aspects] all become subtle, it is simply termed the real; therefore it is termed subtle. If grasping the awakened principle: the principle is neither provisional nor real; not seeing a single dharma, it is like an empty fist deceiving a small child. Preaching the provisional and preaching the real is then coarse; the principle is neither provisional nor real, and is therefore subtle.