俱舍論記 23.86

23.86

「依見現觀至有別喻」者，說一切有部依見現觀引經證漸。言三經者，一《善授經》即此所引、二《慶喜經》、三《一苾芻經》。故《正理》六十三云「如《善授經》，佛告長者：『於四聖諦非頓現觀，必漸現觀。廣說乃至無處無容於苦聖諦未現觀已能現觀集。如是乃至無處無容於滅聖諦未現觀已能現觀道。』如是《慶喜》及《一苾芻》二經所言，意皆同此。三經一一各有別喻。」解云：善授，梵云蘇揭多，舊云須達者，訛也。然彼長者請問世尊：諦現觀時為漸為頓？世尊告曰：非頓必漸，以四諦境自相別故。廣說乃至能現觀道。慶喜，梵云阿難陀，舊云阿難者，訛也。《慶喜問經》、《苾芻問經》問答語端皆同善授，然所舉喻各各不同。第一《善授經》中作如是說：佛告長者：「於四聖諦非頓現觀必漸現觀，以四諦境相各別故。猶如世間造臺觀者，必先簗基，次方壘壁，次上梁栿，後以板覆，此四前後必不俱時，無處無容未簗基訖便壘於壁。」乃至廣說。第二《慶喜經》作如是說「猶如隥上四橫梯時，先隥最初方隥第二，無處無容不隥最初而隥第二。」乃至廣說。第三《一苾芻經》作如是喻「猶如隥上四級階時，先隥最初方隥第二，無處無容不隥最初而隥第二。」乃至廣說。依如是喻，必漸非頓。

Regarding "Relying on the clear realization of vision... there are distinct similes": The Sarvāstivāda relies on the clear realization of vision and cites sūtras to prove that it is gradual. As for the three sūtras: first, the Subhadra-sūtra, which is cited here; second, the Ānanda-sūtra; and third, the Eka-bhikṣu-sūtra. Thus Nyāyānusāra 63 says: "As in the Subhadra-sūtra, the Buddha told the householder: 'Regarding the four noble truths, there is no sudden clear realization; it is necessarily gradual clear realization. It is elaborated up to: It is impossible and cannot be that one who has not yet clearly realized the noble truth of suffering can clearly realize the origin. And so on up to: It is impossible and cannot be that one who has not yet clearly realized the noble truth of cessation can clearly realize the path.' The words of the two sūtras Ānanda and Eka-bhikṣu are both identical in intent to this. Each of the three sūtras has a distinct simile." Explanation: "Subhadra" in Sanskrit is Sugata; the old translation of "Sudatta" was an error. Now, that householder asked the World-Honoured One: "When the truths are clearly realized, is it gradual or sudden?" The World-Honoured One told him: "It is not sudden, but necessarily gradual, because the specific characteristics of the objects of the four truths are distinct." It is elaborated up to being able to clearly realize the path. "Qingxi" in Sanskrit is Ānanda; the old "Anan" was an error. The openings of the questions and answers in the Ānanda-paripṛcchā-sūtra and the Bhikṣu-paripṛcchā-sūtra are both identical to the Subhadra[-sūtra], but the similes presented are each different. In the first, the Subhadra-sūtra, it is said: The Buddha told the householder: "Regarding the four noble truths, there is no sudden clear realization, but necessarily gradual clear realization, because the characteristics of the objects of the four truths are each distinct. Just as in the world when constructing a terrace tower, one must first lay the foundation, next raise the walls, next place the beams and rafters, and finally cover it with planks—these four before and after are definitely not simultaneous, and it is impossible and cannot be that before the foundation is laid one could raise the walls," up to detailed explanation. The second, the Ānanda-sūtra, states: "Just as when climbing four horizontal rungs of a ladder, one first climbs the first and only then climbs the second; it is impossible and cannot be that without climbing the first one could climb the second," up to detailed explanation. The third, the Eka-bhikṣu-sūtra, provides this simile: "Just as when climbing four steps of a flight of stairs, one first climbs the first and only then climbs the second; it is impossible and cannot be that without climbing the first one could climb the second," up to detailed explanation. Based on such similes, it is necessarily gradual and not sudden.