新華嚴經論 3.24

3.24

Now, Master Zang of the present Tang dynasty, who inherited the tradition as a disciple of Master Yan, established teachings that possess deep principle, and their import may also be related: first, the Hīnayāna teaching; second, the initial teaching of the Mahāyāna; third, the final teaching; fourth, the sudden teaching; fifth, the perfect teaching. First, the Hīnayāna is understandable. Second, regarding the initial teaching: in the Saṃdhinirmocana Sūtra, the third-period teaching was established, which equally allowed that those of determined nature in the two vehicles both do not become buddhas; thus now they are gathered together into one teaching. This explanation does not exhaust the principles of the Mahāyāna Dharma, and is therefore established as the initial teaching of the Mahāyāna. Third, the final teaching: those of determined nature in the two vehicles without Buddha-nature, and even icchantikas, will all attain buddhahood; only this exhausts the ultimate exposition of the Mahāyāna, and is therefore established as the final teaching. However, the above initial and final teachings are both cultivated and achieved sequentially according to stages, and are both gradual teachings. Fourth, the sudden teaching: simply when not a single thought arises, that is called Buddha, not spoken sequentially according to stages; hence it is established as the sudden teaching. As the Viśeṣacintibrahmaparipṛcchā Sūtra says: "Those who attain the correct nature of all phenomena do not proceed from ground to ground." The Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra says: "The first ground is itself the eighth ground, and so on up to having nothing; what sequence could there be?" Moreover, regarding the ten grounds in the Chapter on the Ten Grounds below, they are like the tracks of a bird in the sky; how could there be any distinction? This is fully as spoken in the Sarvadharmāpravṛtti-nirdeśa and other sūtras. Fifth, the perfect teaching: because attaining one stage is itself all stages, and all stages are themselves one stage. The fulfillment of mind in the ten faiths encompasses the six stages and perfects right awakening, and so on; relying on Samantabhadra's dharmadhātu, Indra's net layer upon layer, host and companion fully complete, it is therefore called the perfect teaching. This is as spoken in this sūtra and others. Master Zang harmonized and integrated [the teachings] in this manner.