法華玄論 3.48

3.48

答：總論此二義即有兩途：一者小乘為顯示，大乘為祕密。如論第四卷云「佛法有二種：一顯示、二祕密。」顯示教中明阿羅漢斷煩惱清淨，諸菩薩未斷煩惱未清淨，即菩薩不及阿羅漢，故列羅漢在前而菩薩居後。祕密法中明諸菩薩得六神通斷一切煩惱，智慧清淨超出二乘之上。此文正約小乘淺易為顯示，大乘甚深為祕密。若爾者，則《波若》之與《法華》皆明菩薩得無生忍具六神通，並屬祕密甚深教攝，即指三藏教為顯示也。二者以明義猶淺為顯示，明義甚深為祕密。如第百卷說「《波若》但明菩薩作佛」者，《波若》已明佛乘是實，未明二乘作佛者，未開二乘是方便。約此一義有劣《法華》，故名《波若》為淺。《法華》即明佛乘是實，復開二乘為權，故《法華》為深也。此同就大乘中自有淺深，故分顯祕二教。

Answer: Generally discussing these two meanings, there are two approaches. First, the Hīnayāna is exoteric, and the Mahāyāna is esoteric. As the fourth fascicle of the treatise says: 'The Buddha's Dharma is of two kinds: first, exoteric; second, esoteric.' In the exoteric teaching, it clarifies that arhats have severed afflictions and are pure, whereas the bodhisattvas have not yet severed afflictions and are not yet pure; thus bodhisattvas do not equal arhats, so the arhats are listed first and the bodhisattvas are placed behind. In the esoteric teaching, it clarifies that bodhisattvas obtain the six supernatural powers, sever all afflictions, and their wisdom is pure, surpassing the two vehicles. This passage precisely takes the shallow and easy of the Hīnayāna as exoteric, and the extremely profound of the Mahāyāna as esoteric. If so, then both Prajñā and the Lotus clarify that bodhisattvas attain the forbearance of non-arising and possess the six supernatural powers, both belonging to the esoteric, extremely profound teaching, while pointing to the Tripiṭaka teaching as exoteric. Second, taking the meaning clarified as still shallow to be exoteric, and the meaning clarified as extremely profound to be esoteric. As the hundredth fascicle says, 'Prajñā only clarifies that bodhisattvas attain buddhahood': Prajñā has already clarified that the Buddha-vehicle is real, but has not yet clarified that the two vehicles attain buddhahood, not yet revealing that the two vehicles are skillful means. With respect to this one point, it is inferior to the Lotus; hence Prajñā is called shallow. The Lotus clarifies that the Buddha-vehicle is real and also reveals that the two vehicles are provisional; hence the Lotus is deep. This is within the Mahāyāna itself having shallowness and depth, thus distinguishing the two teachings of exoteric and esoteric.