法華遊意 1.291

1.291

《法華》明羅漢作佛甚深難解故是祕密，《波若》明菩薩作佛其義易解故非祕密。故《智度論》云「羅漢作佛，至佛時乃解，論甚深者正可論其餘事」。龍樹既云未解、至佛時乃知，故羅漢作佛甚深難解。《涅槃．現病品》偈云「如佛所說阿羅漢，一切當皆至涅槃，如是甚深佛行處，凡夫下愚不能知」，故知羅漢作佛為難解也。

The Lotus Sūtra elucidating arhats becoming buddhas is extremely profound and difficult to understand, hence it is secret; the Prajñā elucidating bodhisattvas becoming buddhas, its meaning is easy to understand, hence it is not secret. Therefore the Dàzhìdù lùn says, 'That arhats become buddhas is only understood when one reaches buddhahood; when discussing the extremely profound, it is precisely permissible to discuss other matters.' Since Nāgārjuna said that it is not yet understood and only known when reaching buddhahood, arhats becoming buddhas is therefore extremely profound and difficult to understand. A verse in the 'Manifest Illness' chapter of the Nirvāṇa Sūtra says: 'As the Buddha has expounded of arhats, / All shall surely reach nirvāṇa; / Such a profound sphere of practice of buddhas / Ordinary persons and the lowly and foolish cannot know.' Therefore we know that arhats becoming buddhas is difficult to understand.