法華義疏 5.41

5.41

方便者顯法非真實，隨宜者隨前人機宜，人法不同是以兩出也。又方便與隨宜二事各別，方便者階漸為義，如七方便之流，謂教有大小而匠者說法自有階漸，說小應先、明大宜後，為化宜爾即名隨宜。「我若解者便應棄先之小待後之大」，由我不知便謂小為理極故信受取證，失大之過所以在己也。

'Upāya' reveals that the Dharma is not ultimate truth; 'in accord with what is appropriate' adapts to the capacity and suitability of the person before him. Because person and Dharma differ, both are presented. Moreover, upāya and adapting to suitability are two distinct matters: upāya has the meaning of gradual stages, like the class of the seven expedient stages, meaning that the teachings have greater and lesser, and the master's preaching of the Dharma naturally has gradual stages—teaching the Hīnayāna ought to come first, and explaining the Mahāyāna is fitting later; being appropriate for transformation in this way is termed 'in accord with what is appropriate.' 'If I had understood, I should have abandoned the earlier Hīnayāna and waited for the later Mahāyāna.' Because I did not know, I regarded the Hīnayāna as the ultimate truth, and therefore faithfully received it and realized it; the reason the fault of losing the Mahāyāna lay in oneself is this.