妙法蓮華經玄贊 4.150

4.150

Eulogy: This one verse concerns their disparity due to lacking good. Good people all cultivate the four practices of close association: first, associating closely with good friends (kalyāṇamitra); second, hearing the true Dharma; third, proper reflection; fourth, practicing in accordance with the teaching. These evil people do not hear the name of a buddha for tens of thousands of millions of kalpas; how could they associate closely with any good friends? Seeing no buddha and hearing no Dharma, since they lack the wisdom derived from hearing which is the initial cause for entering the Dharma, reflection and cultivation are reasonably impossible to obtain. Therefore, such people are extremely difficult to deliver; how could one teach them the Mahāyāna at the very outset?