勝鬘寶窟 3.13

3.13

Fifth is the section on examining them according to persons. The sūtra states: "Ordinary persons have suffering but no truth." Ordinary persons possess the two kinds, suffering and origination, yet they cannot understand them; therefore, they have no truth. The quiescence of the unconditioned is either present or absent: for ordinary persons, if they sever afflictions it is present, and if they do not sever afflictions it is absent. The truth of the path is entirely absent for them. Śrāvakas have suffering and have truth, yet lack reality. Having finite suffering, they are said to have suffering; fully understanding the finite, they therefore have truth. Not yet possessing the correct contemplation of the Mahāyāna, they lack reality. The sūtra states: "Bodhisattvas have suffering, have reality, and have truth." Ordinary persons have one: that is, they have suffering. Śrāvakas have two: they have suffering and have truth. Bodhisattvas have three: they have suffering, have truth, and have reality. The sūtra also states: "Bodhisattvas understand suffering to be without suffering, yet have reality." This is based on bodhisattvas at the buddha stage. Question: Bodhisattvas of which stage fully possess all three? Answer: The Tripiṭaka Master says: "From the ten understandings to the ten practices, bodhisattvas are broadly the same as śrāvakas. From the ten dedications onward up to the buddhas, they fully possess the three meanings."