妙法蓮華經玄贊 4.20

4.20

Fourth, revealing the differences: regarding the differences between the Single Vehicle taught here and the Single Vehicle taught in the Śrīmālādevī and the Nirvāṇa-sūtra: this one pertains to both principle and wisdom, whereas those pertain solely to buddha-nature; this one is solely about gathering in, whereas those pertain to generation; this one is solely for those with the nature, whereas those extend to those without the nature; this one is solely for the indeterminate lineage, whereas those extend to the determinate lineage; this one speaks mostly of teaching and principle, whereas those speak mostly of practice and fruition; this one teaches that the Single Vehicle is real and the two vehicles are expedient, whereas those teach that the Single Vehicle is expedient and the four vehicles are real. Thus the Śrīmālādevī says: "If the Tathāgata, in accord with their desires, teaches by expedient means that there is only the Single Vehicle and no other vehicle, etc." As for distinguishing the differences with the Single Vehicle taught in the Anantanirdeśa-sūtra, it has already been extensively explained in the explanation of the title. These distinctive characteristics, as well as the fifth section on distinguishing through questions and answers, are all found in a separate chapter and need not be detailed here repetitively.