法華玄論 3.18

3.18

Answer: I shall now relate this for you. From Prajñā to the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra, all are dharmas for teaching bodhisattvas; however, the dharmas for teaching bodhisattvas are generally of two kinds: first, explicit teaching; second, both explicit and esoteric. For instance, the Lotus Sūtra and the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra explicitly teach bodhisattvas, hence they clarify that the people of the three vehicles are all bodhisattvas. Prajñā is both explicit and esoteric: it explicitly teaches bodhisattvas and esoterically teaches the two vehicles. Explicitly teaching bodhisattvas means causing bodhisattvas to cultivate and study prajñā to accomplish the Buddha's path; esoterically teaching the two vehicles means exhorting the two vehicles to study prajñā, likewise causing the two vehicles to accomplish the Buddha's path. As stated in the bequeathing of wealth, esoterically demonstrating the great Dharma to make it one's own responsibility is the reason for bequeathing the wealth to the destitute son; the destitute son has dull faculties and is unaware and uncomprehending, supposing that studying prajñā leads to realizing the three vehicles. If one claims that studying prajñā accomplishes the three vehicles, this is still the mindset of the destitute son.