法華玄論 1.87

1.87

Answer: People of the two vehicles have two kinds of doubts. The first is old doubt: as Śāriputra said, 'The three vehicles equally enter the Dharma-nature; why do I see the bodhisattvas receive prophecies of becoming buddhas, while the two vehicles do not become buddhas? I wish to ask the World-Honoured One whether this is first or not first.' Before the Lotus Sūtra was preached, there was this doubt. It also says: 'When I first heard what the Buddha preached, my heart was greatly startled and doubtful.' This is a new doubt. People who are bodhisattvas also have two doubts: First, people of initial practice formerly heard that cultivating bodhisattva practices leads to the realization of the buddha-way, but did not know whether they would definitely become buddhas or regress to become of the two vehicles. This was an old doubt. Now, hearing the Lotus clarify that the three do not exist and only the one exists, their minds again give rise to doubt: 'If the three vehicles do not exist, why did the Buddha formerly say there were three?' Now, desiring to cut off both kinds of doubt of the śrāvakas and bodhisattvas, this sūtra is preached. Later I saw that the commentary's explanation of the three requests clarifies that both śrāvakas and bodhisattvas have old doubts; searching for its chapter and section, the explanation accords with the present text.