妙法蓮華經玄贊 3.26

3.26

The commentary states: This is the second phrase. The treatise states in the first round: "Furthermore, 'various types of knowledge and vision' means personally accomplishing an inconceivable sphere and bestowing it upon śrāvakas and bodhisattvas. As the sūtra states: 'Śāriputra! It is because the Tathāgata's knowledge, vision, and expedient means have reached the other shore.' 'Reaching the other shore' means surpassing all other bodhisattvas." The text differs slightly, but the doctrinal purport is no different. "Knowledge and vision" are the substances of the two types of cognition—ultimate and conventional: fundamental cognition is called "knowledge," and subsequent cognition is called "vision." "Expedient means" is the wondrous application and skill-in-means of this cognition; by personally accomplishing the inconceivable sphere, one possesses knowledge and vision, and bestowing them upon śrāvakas and others is termed "expedient means." "Pāramitā" means reaching the other shore; it clarifies that because the Buddha has accomplished the substance of the two supreme cognitions, he is able to accomplish the inconceivable sphere, having already reached the other shore and surpassed all others. Because he possesses the wondrous application of the two cognitions through expedient means, he is further able to cause others to reach the other shore; therefore, with this knowledge and vision of the inconceivable sphere, he also bestows it upon śrāvakas and bodhisattvas.