維摩經玄疏 6.134

6.134

答曰：五味次第，尚得論不定遍方，設有異說，此復何須論也！婆羅門將偈來此，出四種論，所謂牛王論、蝦蟇跳論、師子論、鳥眼論。今借便用此四種論，通前四種教：牛王論通頓教，蝦蟇跳論通漸教，師子論通不定教，鳥眼論通祕密教。今判此經非是頓教，乃至五味漸教生蘇之味。若約不定教，即是置毒生蘇而殺人也。利根菩薩，於此教入不二法門，見佛性，住不可思議解脫涅槃，即滿字之教。若祕密，即不可知也。此經意，不主明教相，是故不須委曲也。但教相義，多有所關，最為難解難明。《法華玄》辨四教義，方可得略見大意耳。

Answer: In the sequence of the five flavors, one may still discuss the indeterminate omnipresence; even if there are differing theories, why should there be any need to dispute this further? A brāhmaṇa brought verses here and set forth four kinds of treatises: namely, the Bull King treatise, the Leaping Frog treatise, the Lion treatise, and the Bird's Eye treatise. Now, borrowing the convenience of these four treatises, they correspond to the preceding four kinds of teachings: the Bull King treatise corresponds to the sudden teaching; the Leaping Frog treatise corresponds to the gradual teaching; the Lion treatise corresponds to the indeterminate teaching; and the Bird's Eye treatise corresponds to the esoteric teaching. Now, we judge this sūtra not to be the sudden teaching, but rather the flavor of curd within the gradual teaching of the five flavors. In terms of the indeterminate teaching, it is putting poison into curd to kill people. Bodhisattvas of sharp faculties enter the dharma-door of non-duality within this teaching, see the buddha-nature, and dwell in the inconceivable liberation of nirvāṇa; this is the teaching of the complete letter. In terms of the esoteric, it cannot be known. The intention of this sūtra is not primarily to clarify the characteristics of the teaching; therefore, we need not elaborate in fine detail. However, the meaning of the characteristics of the teaching has many ramifications and is the most difficult to comprehend and clarify. Only when the Fahua xuan discerns the meaning of the four teachings can one roughly glimpse the main idea.