大乘義章 1.10

1.10

問曰：若言前過恒沙是應非真，何故論中說為報佛？釋言：約化顯實故爾。化來多時，明真久矣。彼既說應未來倍數，何得報此，疑真不了？又《涅槃》中嘆涅槃經有大利益，如《法華》中八千聲聞得授記莂，成大果實。得益既齊，所明寧異？如龍樹實云。法華經者。最為甚深。以說聲聞得作佛故。是故餘經。皆付阿難。唯法華經獨付菩薩。准驗斯文。不得言淺。

Question: If you say that exceeding the sands of the Ganges in the past refers to the response body and not the true body, why does the treatise explain it as the reward Buddha? Answer: This is because it reveals the real by means of the manifest. Since the manifestation has lasted for a long time, it clarifies that the true has existed for long indeed. Since it speaks of the response extending twice that number into the future, how can this [manifestation] be equated with the reward, giving rise to doubts that the true is neyārtha? Furthermore, the Nirvāṇa [Sūtra] praises the Great Nirvāṇa Sūtra as having great benefit, just as in the Lotus Sūtra eight thousand śrāvakas received the prediction [of Buddhahood] and achieved the great fruition. Since the benefits obtained are equal, how could what they elucidate differ? As Nāgārjuna truly said: 'The Lotus Sūtra is the most profound, because it preaches that śrāvakas attain Buddhahood. Therefore, the other sūtras were all entrusted to Ānanda, whereas the Lotus Sūtra alone was entrusted exclusively to bodhisattvas.' Examining this text for verification, one cannot say it is shallow.