法華玄論 2.68

2.68

Answer: They are simultaneous. Once the fundamental ignorance that obstructs buddhahood is severed, the retribution of impermanence and suffering is instantly purified; hence the two nirvāṇas are simultaneous. This comes from the *Mahāyānasaṃgraha*. As for the third [difference], explaining the difference between the greater and lesser nirvāṇas: the lesser vehicle's nirvāṇa is not replete with all virtues, whereas the Mahāyāna nirvāṇa is fully replete with all virtues. As the "Faith and Understanding" chapter states: "Through the long night we practiced the doctrine of emptiness / and were able to escape the afflictions of suffering in the three realms." The lesser vehicle's nirvāṇa is without body and without wisdom, and is therefore called empty; there is only phenomenon and no person, and is therefore called empty. The great nirvāṇa is fully replete with both body and wisdom, as well as person and phenomena. Thus the "Faith and Understanding" chapter states: "The king of all phenomena, uncontaminated and unconditioned." This passage encompasses all meanings: because it is "uncontaminated," it refers to the virtue of liberation; because it is "unconditioned," it is replete with the virtues of the dharmakāya and prajñā. "Uncontaminated and unconditioned" is the phenomenon, and "king of all phenomena" is the person; thus we know that the tathāgata's body, being uncontaminated and unconditioned, is nirvāṇa replete with both person and phenomena. The "Faith and Understanding" chapter has not yet fully explained this meaning. Furthermore, the "Simile" chapter clarifies the meaning of the tathāgata's nirvāṇa being different from the nirvāṇa of the two vehicles, as when it states: "All are brought to extinction through the tathāgata's extinction, / without allowing anyone to attain extinction alone." This explains the difference between the two extinctions, greater and lesser, which is the difference in the fruit of the fruit. It also states: "To all those sentient beings who escape the three realms, / I grant the implements of play—the dhyānas and liberations of the buddhas." This explains that the Buddha's myriad virtues are different from the virtues of the two vehicles, which is the difference in the meaning of the fruit.