大乘起信論裂網疏 5.76

5.76

此明雖漸教中初發心住已斷見惑，與初果齊，亦無退墮惡趣之事，不過權說以策初學耳。或復退墮二乘地中，則容有之也。

This clarifies that even though the stage of first arousing the mind in the gradual teaching has already severed the delusions of view and is on a par with the first fruit, there is also no falling back into bad destinies; this is merely a provisional statement to spur on beginners. Falling back into the stage of the two vehicles, however, may indeed occur.