妙法蓮華經玄贊 5.320

5.320

The Commentary says: The fourth major section below corresponds to escaping calamity by heeding his words. The three vehicles are divided into three, each having two parts: first the Dharma, and then the correspondence. This is the first text. Each possesses four powers: the internal nature of wisdom is the power of the cause, because of the fundamental lineage. Following the Buddha, the Bhagavat, is the power of the spiritual friend, because the Buddha serves as the condition; whether meeting a Buddha or not meeting a Buddha, at the outset one must rely on the Buddha-Dharma before one can generate the mind [for awakening]—this is called the power of the spiritual friend. Hearing the Dharma and faithfully accepting it is the power of mental attention (manaskāra), because of the acquired lineage. Earnest diligence is the power of provisions, with vigor as the foremost, gathering all practices. Relying on the four superior powers of cause, spiritual friend, mental attention, and provisions, one solely cultivates oneself to seek nirvāṇa; this is called the śrāvaka vehicle. Hearing the Dharma and practicing for oneself without being able to transform others is called "seeking for oneself"; it does not mean not seeking the Buddha as a disciple. The Yogācārabhūmi explains: "Among the noble teachings of the buddhas, sound is foremost; hearing the sound of this teaching from teachers and friends and thereby realizing the noble fruit, they are therefore called śrāvakas ('voice-hearers')." Because it is the hearing of sound, it is a tatpuruṣa compound. Below, in the "Belief and Understanding Chapter," it says: "Using the sound of the Buddha's teaching to make all hear, they are therefore called śrāvakas"; this is also a tatpuruṣa compound, or a bahuvrīhi compound. The former applies to the determined lineage, the latter to the undetermined lineage. Here, for those who seek nirvāṇa, the omniscience that they study is called the body of the cart; it is not that nirvāṇa is the body of the cart. Because this text is abridged, one should understand what follows accordingly.