勝鬘寶窟 1.24

1.24

Regarding "at one time," an ancient commentary states: "It praises not diverging in time and not missing the opportune capacity; stimulus and response silently correspond." To explain broadly, the meaning of "one" has four aspects in general: first, the oneness of the person; second, the oneness of the teaching; third, the oneness of the time; fourth, the oneness of the capacity. As for the oneness of the person: from beginning to end, it is spoken by the Tathāgata alone, with no other person; therefore it is called oneness of the person. Second, the oneness of the teaching: what Ānanda received and retained was indeed what the Buddha taught, with no differing teaching; therefore it is called oneness of the teaching. Third, the oneness of the time: the Tathāgata taught at one time, and Ānanda received it at one time; therefore it is called oneness of the time. Fourth, the oneness of the capacity: sentient beings had the stimulus at one time, and the Tathāgata had the response at one time, stimulus and capacity interfacing with one another; therefore it is said "at one time." These "ones" are all broad determinations. In saying "broad determination": at the beginning, there was also Śrīmālā's exposition of the meaning, which differed, yet one may speak of oneness of the person; since its seal and confirmation into a sūtra from beginning to end all derived from the Buddha, the merit is attributed to the Buddha, and this is called oneness of the person. Nor can it be determinately held that the Tathāgata taught at one time and Ānanda received it at one time, for there were parts that Ānanda initially did not hear and only later heard. Here it merely means that from beginning to end, it was Ānanda who heard the Dharma from the Buddha; hence it is simply called "at one time." Regarding what is meant by "time," the Mahāyānasaṃgraha states: "There are three kinds of time: first, equality, meaning free from sinking, floating, or invertedness; second, harmonious union, meaning causing those able to hear to hear the true Dharma; third, the time of turning the wheel of the Dharma, properly teaching and properly receiving."