維摩經玄疏 4.27

4.27

第五、約五味譬顯四教位者，《大涅槃經》明五味譬不同，以成四教辨位不同之相也。經云「凡夫如乳，須陀洹如酪，斯陀含如生酥，阿那含如熟酥，阿羅漢、辟支佛如醍醐」，此譬意恐是顯三藏教明位也。經又云「凡夫如乳，聲聞如酪，辟支佛如生酥，菩薩如熟酥，佛如醍醐」，此譬意恐顯通教明位也。經又云「凡夫如雜血乳，羅漢如清淨乳，辟支佛如酪，菩薩如生熟酥，佛如醍醐」，此譬意恐顯別教明位也。經又云「雪山有草，名曰忍辱。牛若食者，即得醍醐。忍辱草者，諭八聖道；乳諭十二部經。隨有能修八聖道者，即見佛性，住大涅槃」，此即譬於圓教菩薩從初發心即開佛知見、見佛性、住大涅槃也。《涅槃經》明此之四譬，譬四教明位，其義宛然。若不信四教明位不同者，云何消釋此五味四種譬也？今用前四教明位，合此四譬，一往似如目覩，祇自聖人密意難知，何可定執！又《涅槃經》云：「譬如有人，置毒於乳，乃至醍醐，亦能殺人。」此譬應得兩用，若對經教，六味明義，處處皆得見佛性、入涅槃也，此即是不定教門，事在下釋。若是約位明殺人義，四位五味根緣不定，隨其大乘機發，即皆以如來滅度而滅度之，故同殺人之義也。

Fifth, regarding revealing the stages of the four teachings through the metaphor of the five flavors: the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra explains the differences in the metaphor of the five flavors to establish the different characteristics in distinguishing the stages of the four teachings. The sūtra says: "Ordinary beings are like milk, srotaāpannas are like coagulated milk (curd), sakṛdāgāmins are like raw butter, anāgāmins are like clarified butter, and arhats and pratyekabuddhas are like ghee." The intent of this metaphor is probably to reveal the stages of the Tripiṭaka teaching. The sūtra also says: "Ordinary beings are like milk, śrāvakas are like coagulated milk, pratyekabuddhas are like raw butter, bodhisattvas are like clarified butter, and the Buddha is like ghee." The intent of this metaphor is probably to reveal the stages of the shared teaching. The sūtra also says: "Ordinary beings are like milk mixed with blood, arhats are like pure milk, pratyekabuddhas are like coagulated milk, bodhisattvas are like raw and clarified butter, and the Buddha is like ghee." The intent of this metaphor is probably to reveal the stages of the distinctive teaching. The sūtra also says: "In the Snowy Mountains there is a grass named forbearance (kṣānti). If cows eat it, they immediately produce ghee. The grass of forbearance illustrates the eightfold noble path; milk illustrates the twelve divisions of scriptures. Whoever is able to cultivate the eightfold noble path immediately sees the buddha-nature and abides in great nirvāṇa." This illustrates that a bodhisattva of the perfect teaching, from first arousing the mind, immediately opens the Buddha's knowledge and vision, sees the buddha-nature, and abides in great nirvāṇa. The Nirvāṇa Sūtra explains these four metaphors to illustrate the stages of the four teachings, and their meaning is clear. If one does not believe in the differences in the stages of the four teachings, how can one interpret these four metaphors of the five flavors? Now using the stages of the earlier four teachings to match these four metaphors, at first glance it is as if seen before one's eyes; yet the sage's secret intent is inherently difficult to fathom, so how could one hold to it rigidly? Furthermore, the Nirvāṇa Sūtra says: "For instance, if someone puts poison into milk, through to ghee it can still kill a person." This metaphor should admit of two applications: if applied to the sūtra teachings, where the six flavors explain the doctrine, everywhere one can see the buddha-nature and enter nirvāṇa; this is the door of the indeterminate teaching, a matter explained below. If the meaning of killing a person is explained according to the stages: because the capacities and conditions across the four stages and five flavors are indeterminate, whenever their capacity for the Great Vehicle is aroused, they are all led to extinction through the Tathāgata's extinction; thus it shares the meaning of killing a person.