[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [法華義疏](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1721) › 1.255 # 法華義疏 1.255 法華義疏 1.255 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [1.255](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1721.1.255) 欲顯三乘優劣義故。小乘道劣，從聲教立名故云聲聞；中乘小勝，從義立名故云緣覺，然十二緣是法義也；大乘為勝，從果德立名。又初二非是中道，故不與其道稱；後是中道，故與其道名。摩訶薩埵者，摩訶云大，《十地論》云「大有三種：願大、行大、度眾生大」，薩埵云眾生，則大眾生也。 > It is to show the relative superiority and inferiority of the three vehicles. The Hīnayāna Way is inferior, and its name is established from the verbal teachings; hence they are called "śrāvakas" (voice-hearers). The intermediate vehicle is slightly superior, and its name is established from the meaning; hence they are called "pratyekabuddhas" (individually enlightened), for the twelve links of conditioned origination are the meaning of phenomena. The Mahāyāna is superior, and its name is established from the fruit-stage virtue. Furthermore, the first two are not the Middle Way, so they are not named after that Way; the latter is the Middle Way, so they are named after that Way. Regarding "mahāsattva", \*mahā\* means great. The \*Daśabhūmika Śāstra\* says: "There are three kinds of greatness: greatness of vows, greatness of practices, and greatness of liberating sentient beings." \*Sattva\* means sentient being; thus it means "great sentient being". > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 1.254](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1721.1.254) - [Next: 1.256](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1721.1.256) - [Up: 1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1721.1) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1721~en-mt.1.255) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1721.1.255](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1721.1.255) · Pramāṇa