首楞嚴義疏注經 4.347

4.347

問：阿難尚在初果，登伽何以却證第三？答：一、約權實，阿難示迹現多聞無功，故在初果；登伽實人，顯呪力功大，速證第三。二、約根行，阿難圓頓根發，前文悟解，或入信、住；登伽小機，雖得第三，望圓信、住霄壤有異。

Question: Ānanda was still at the first fruit; why did Mātaṅgī instead realize the third? Answer: First, in terms of the provisional and real, Ānanda manifested the trace of showing that hearing much is without merit, hence he remained at the first fruit; Mātaṅgī was an actual person, revealing the great power of the dhāraṇī to swiftly realize the third. Second, in terms of faculties and practice, Ānanda's faculties of the perfect and sudden were activated, and through the earlier awakening and understanding, he perhaps entered the stages of faith or abiding; Mātaṅgī was of lesser capacity, and although she attained the third [fruit], compared to the perfect stages of faith and abiding, there is a difference as vast as heaven and earth.