法華玄論 5.55

5.55

Answer: This meaning must be discussed by weighing both sides. If the mind of the two vehicles is a delusion that can hinder the Mahāyāna, it should be as questioned. Then those who practiced the deeds of the two vehicles for long kalpas would have arisen delusion for a long time, and this grasping would be difficult to break, so they should be of inferior capacity; those who practiced the deeds of the two vehicles for a short time would have arisen delusion for a brief period, and this grasping would be easy to overturn, so they should be of superior capacity; and between the two should be middling capacity. However, Śāriputra practiced the lesser deeds for a long time, so his capacity was sharp, and hence he is called of superior capacity; practicing the lesser for a short time is called inferior capacity; and between the two is designated middling capacity. Furthermore, Śāriputra exhausted the source of the lesser, so he easily awakened to the great, while other people were not so; therefore Śāriputra is called of sharp capacity. Furthermore, the two vehicles can be integrated into the bodhisattva path, so those whose practice of the two vehicles was long are profound in their practice regarding the bodhisattva [path]. Some say: there are four propositions: (1) delusion is light and capacity is sharp; (2) delusion is heavy and capacity is sharp; (3) delusion is light and capacity is dull; (4) delusion is heavy and capacity is dull. If delusion is light and capacity is sharp, upon first hearing one awakens; if the middling and inferior two persons, upon hearing a second time they awaken; as for the fourth person, only upon hearing three times does he awaken. This meaning will be extensively explained below under the five defilements.