維摩經玄疏 3.45

3.45

答曰：雖復無的四教名目，今映傍大乘經論，立四教名義者，如《大涅槃經》明「四不可說，有因緣故，亦可得說」，四種之說，以化前緣，即是四教也；《大涅槃經》明「四番轉四諦法輪」，即是四教之意也；《法華經》明「三草二木，一地所生」，即是四教意也；《中論》破諸異執，既說「因緣所生」四句，通佛四說，即是四教之意也……如此等四種說法，隨機利物，即是四教義，皆是四教之異名耳。

Answer: Although there are no explicit titles of the four teachings, we now reflect upon Mahāyāna sūtras and treatises to establish the names and meanings of the four teachings. For instance, the *Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra* explains: "The four [types of dharmas] are inexpressible, but because there are causes and conditions, they can also be expressed"; the four kinds of expression, used to transform conditions before [the Buddha], are precisely the four teachings. The *Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra* explains "the four turnings of the wheel of the four noble truths," which is precisely the meaning of the four teachings. The *Lotus Sūtra* explains "the three grasses and two trees, grown from one ground," which is precisely the meaning of the four teachings. The *Mūlamadhyamakakārikā*, in refuting diverse attachments, having spoken of the four lines on "what arises from causes and conditions," accommodates the Buddha's four preachings, which is precisely the meaning of the four teachings... Such four kinds of exposition of the Dharma, benefiting beings according to their capacities, are precisely the meaning of the four teachings, and are all merely different names for the four teachings.