楞伽阿跋多羅寶經註解 4.194

4.194

佛告大慧：「莫如說受，三世諸佛量非如恒河沙。所以者何？過世間望，非譬所譬，以凡愚計常、外道妄想，長養惡見，生死無窮，欲令厭離生死趣輪，精勤勝進，故為彼說言『諸佛易見，非如優曇鉢華難得見。』故息方便求。有時復觀諸受化者作是說言『佛難值遇，如優曇鉢華。』優曇鉢華無已見、今見、當見。如來者世間悉見，不以建立自通，故說言『如來出世如優曇鉢華。』大慧！自建立自通者，過世間望，彼諸凡愚所不能信，自覺聖智境界無以為譬，真實如來過心、意、意識所見之相，不可為譬。大慧！然我說譬佛如恒河沙，無有過咎。」

The Buddha told Mahāmati: "Do not accept it as spoken. The measure of the Buddhas of the three times is not like the sands of the Ganges. Why is this? They transcend worldly expectations and are not what can be compared by analogies. Because the foolish calculate permanence and tīrthikas harbor false vikalpas, nurturing evil views and causing birth-and-death without end, wishing to make them turn away from the wheel of birth-and-death and advance diligently with excellence, he therefore speaks to them, saying: 'Buddhas are easy to see, not like the udumbara flower which is difficult to see,' thereby ceasing their expedient seeking. At times, observing those to be transformed, he makes this statement, saying: 'Buddhas are difficult to encounter, like the udumbara flower.' The udumbara flower has no such thing as having been seen, being seen now, or to be seen in the future. The Tathāgata is seen by all in the world. It is not on account of establishing his own realization that it is said, 'The appearance of a Tathāgata in the world is like the udumbara flower.' Mahāmati, that which establishes one's own realization transcends worldly expectations; those foolish ones cannot believe it. The realm of pratyātmāryajñāna cannot be compared by analogy. The true Tathāgata transcends the characteristics seen by citta, manas, and manovijñāna and cannot be analogized. Mahāmati, yet my speaking the analogy of the Buddha being like the sands of the Ganges is without fault."