維摩經玄疏 4.27

4.27

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.