大般涅槃經義記 6.58

6.58

Next, it turns back to extensively explain the fifth gate, good spiritual friends. Those good spiritual friends are of three grades: first, lower-grade spiritual friends, who know but do not see, referring to the various bodhisattvas from the gotra-bhūmi up to the ninth ground, who know that all sentient beings possess buddha-nature; although they know it, because afflictions cover their minds, they are unable to see it; second, middle-grade spiritual friends, namely, the various bodhisattvas of the ten abodes, who know that all sentient beings possess buddha-nature, but their seeing is not distinct, like seeing at night—this is revealed by metaphor; third, upper-grade spiritual friends, referring to the buddhas, the Tathāgatas, who see that all sentient beings possess buddha-nature, seeing it clearly and distinctly.