觀音玄義記 3.17

3.17

Question: In the forty-two stages, from equal enlightenment downward they should be judged as the Saṅgha, and marvelous enlightenment as the Buddha. Why are both cause and effect called the Saṅgha? Answer: The three jewels of distinct marks indeed take cause and effect as Saṅgha and Buddha. But now we are discussing the single substance, where one person in a single thought completely possesses the three jewels. In the forty-two stages, at every stage the reward-wisdom is unified with dharmatā, both of which are called the two jewels [of Buddha and Dharma]. At every stage, the responsive body is called the Saṅgha jewel. Therefore, the responsive [body] of marvelous enlightenment is most able to govern the great assembly across the three lands; hence the Saṅgha jewel is completely perfected. If one can properly understand the three jewels of the single substance, they will naturally possess the meaning of the three jewels within the various gradual teachings, because they can harmonize with principle, phenomena, and the three truths.