法華玄贊義決 1.3

1.3

答：據其證理名頓悟，得聖迴心名漸悟，勝未得聖者，理未悟故。若以信悟而名漸悟，有定姓大乘人，曾未聞大，創即聞小，雖不趣求聞而信解，豈名漸悟耶？若此信解不名漸悟，故未得聖即迴心者，亦非漸悟。若爾彼類定生時等生數無多，何非漸悟？此亦不然。若趣小果已定生等，若迴趣大生數不定。

Answer: In terms of realizing the principle, it is called sudden awakening; attaining noble status and [then] turning the mind is called gradual awakening. This is superior to those who have not yet attained noble status, because they have not yet awakened to the principle. If one were to call it gradual awakening on the basis of awakening through faith, there are people of determinate lineage for the Mahāyāna who, having never heard the Great [Vehicle], at first hear the Small [Vehicle]; although they do not pursue it, they hear it and have faithful understanding—could that be called gradual awakening? If this faithful understanding is not called gradual awakening, then one who turns the mind before attaining noble status is likewise not [a person of] gradual awakening. If so, for that type [of practitioner] the time of rebirth is determinate and their number of rebirths is not many; why would they not be [persons of] gradual awakening? This too is not so. If one is heading toward the small fruition, rebirth and so forth are already determinate; if one turns toward the Great [Vehicle], the number of rebirths is indeterminate.