法華文句記 9.142

9.142

「問若壽量」等者，《涅槃》亦云「惟佛與佛其壽無量，無量故常」，明常既同，經應不別；經部雖異，二常何殊？答中為二，先反質令同，次分別辯異。初「反質」者，一乘既同，俱常何咎？《大經》云「一切眾生悉一乘故」，其部雖異，常理何殊？若部異常殊，亦應部殊乘別。「云云」者，雖如向述，亦應更立名異義同，而為多並。「分別答者」，先《涅槃》，次《勝鬘》。初「涅槃」者，明常雖同廣略稍別，亦應結云豈廣略別令常不同？次文云「為一明一」者，三外之一自為一機，非會三一故但云一。部屬方等、對斥偏三，未至法華不應云「會」。「云云」者，亦應更云，帶不帶異，一乘何殊？亦應具約五時明會不會一乘共別。

Regarding 'Question: If the life span...' and so forth: the Nirvāṇa Sūtra also says, 'Only a Buddha and a Buddha have an immeasurable life span, and because it is immeasurable, it is eternal.' Since their explanation of permanence is identical, the sūtras should not differ; although the sūtra texts are distinct, how do the two permanences differ? In the reply there are two parts: first, posing a counter-question to make them identical, and next, distinguishing them to clarify their difference. First, regarding the 'counter-question': since the One Vehicle is identical, what fault is there in both being eternal? The Great Sūtra says, 'Because all sentient beings are of the One Vehicle.' Though their texts are distinct, how does the eternal principle differ? If different texts entailed different permanences, then different texts should also entail different vehicles. As for 'and so on and so forth,' although it is as just stated, one should also establish different names with the same meaning and set forth multiple parallels. As for 'answering by distinction': first the Nirvāṇa Sūtra, then the Śrīmālādevī Sūtra. First, regarding the 'Nirvāṇa': although explaining permanence is identical, the broad and the concise differ slightly; one should also conclude by saying, how could a difference in broad and concise make the permanence different? In the next passage it says, 'clarifying the one for the sake of the one': the one outside the three is of itself for one capacity, not the convergence of the three into the one; hence it merely says 'one.' In classification it belongs to the Vaipulya, rebuking the one-sided three; before reaching the Lotus Sūtra, one should not say 'converged.' As for 'and so on and so forth,' one should also further say: differing in whether it carries [the provisional] or not, how does the One Vehicle differ? One should also fully rely on the five periods to clarify whether the One Vehicle is shared or distinct, converged or not converged.