法華文句記 1.177

1.177

三周之中正數雖少，如舍利弗得記之時，四眾八部即其流也。故三周中亦有應化與實行者同時得記。故《論》中云：「退大、應化二種與記」，即其意也。如菩薩眾但列八萬，分別功德記數蓋多，故知大小二眾列同聞眾，不可望得記者也。

Although the primary number in the three cycles is small, when Śāriputra received his prediction, for example, the four assemblies and eight classes of beings belonged to that stream. Therefore, in the three cycles, there were also provisional transformations who received prediction simultaneously with actual practitioners. Hence the Treatise states: "Both those who retrogressed from the great vehicle and provisional transformations are given prediction"; this is precisely the meaning. Just as the bodhisattva assembly is merely listed as eighty thousand, yet in the discrimination of merits the number receiving prediction was exceedingly large. Thus we know that when the two assemblies of great and small are listed as fellow hearers, they cannot be measured against those who received prediction.