法華玄論 9.183

9.183

Answer: Distinguished in terms of the three times: if in the past one practiced the contemplation of non-acquisition for a long time, so that contemplation was strong and afflictions were weak, encountering Śākyamuni in the past and attaining awakening, one is called of superior capacity. Second, if in the past one practiced the contemplation of non-acquisition, but contemplation was weak and afflictions were somewhat strong, so that encountering bad spiritual companions one drifted through the five destinies, and only then gradually cultivated roots of goodness, so that when Śākyamuni appears in the world today, from his initial birth up to hearing the preaching of the Lotus Sūtra one attains awakening, one is called of middling capacity. If in the past one's cultivation of goodness was weak and afflictions were strong, and one also drifted through the five destinies, and afterwards only slightly cultivated roots of goodness, so that when responding to Śākyamuni's appearance in the world, from his initial birth through the Lotus Sūtra one sequentially hears the various teachings without awakening, and only upon reaching the Nirvāṇa [Sūtra] when he proclaims extinction does one attain awakening and comprehension—such a person is called of inferior capacity. However, the "Parable Chapter" only explains the latter two kinds of people. In the preceding doctrinal exposition it explains that having accomplished Buddhahood long ago in the past, he guided and benefited sentient beings; those such as the bodhisattvas welling up out of the earth from a thousand worlds were all transformed and gained by Śākyamuni in the past, and are called people of superior capacity.