維摩義記 1.19

1.19

Question: Ānanda is a noble one who has attained the principle; for what reason does he speak of "I" in common with ordinary people? The explanation is: although Ānanda also says "I," it is not the same as ordinary people. How is it not the same? Speaking of "I" has three [forms]: 1. Speaking of "I" with a view-mind: this refers to ordinary people whose view of self has not yet perished, who state and speak of having a self from within the mind of self-view. 2. Speaking of "I" with an arrogant mind: this refers to learners (śaikṣa) whose underlying tendency of views has perished but whose underlying tendency of conceit still remains, who state and speak of having a self from within the mind of self-conceit. 3. Proclaiming and speaking of having a self in accord with worldly usage: this refers to non-learners (aśaikṣa) whose underlying tendency of views has long been removed and whose underlying tendency of conceit is also exhausted, who say "I" simply in accord with worldly usage. When Ānanda took part in the recitation-council of the Dharma, he was established in the stage of a non-learner, and was simply saying "I" in accord with worldly usage; it was neither [from] views nor [from] conceit, and therefore not the same as ordinary people.