法華玄論 6.88

6.88

Answer: One must carefully scrutinize the meaning of the treatise's words. The treatise says that the bodhisattva, "being alarmed and fearful, gives rise to a mind that grasps a different vehicle"; hence if one took this text as demanding the Buddha vehicle, the bodhisattva should properly seek the Buddha vehicle of former days; how could he give rise to a mind that grasps a different vehicle? Now, interpreting this text of the treatise: it properly means that the Mahāyāna is extremely profound, and when persons of the two vehicles hear it, they give rise to slander. Just as in the first of the five meanings: when a bodhisattva hears that the Mahāyāna is extremely profound, and only a buddha can thoroughly and completely understand it while other people do not understand it—as above, from the aspiration [to awakening] up to non-retrogression, all are unable to comprehend the Buddha's wisdom. The bodhisattva, hearing these words, wishes to retreat and take up the two vehicles, hence it says "giving rise to a mind that grasps a different vehicle." Therefore it is not demanding the bodhisattva vehicle. Śāriputra's regret has already been resolved in the previous text.