大乘義章 12.98

12.98

六攝之義，出《地持論》。錄物從道，目之為攝。攝處不同，一門說六。六名是何？一者頓攝、二增上攝、三者取攝、四者久攝、五不久攝、六者後攝。六中前三，化事分別。三中初一所化中頓，第二一門能化身上，第三一門化具圓備。後之三種隨根分別，初一下根，次一中根，後一上根。故有六種。言頓攝者，於一切生作父母想，隨己力能以一切種安樂饒益，是名頓攝。增上攝者，菩薩居尊攝取眾生，名增上攝。依論有三：一者為王，善攝人民；二為家主，巧益親屬；三者為父，於子等益，情無偏黨。言取攝者，能以財法攝取眾生。言久攝者，軟根眾生，久化乃熟。不久攝者，中根眾生，易化近淨。言後攝者，上根眾生，於現世中堪任清淨，化益之窮，故名後攝。問曰：此六於四攝中何相所收？釋言：四攝通於六中，不別相對。六攝如是。

The meaning of the six means of embracing derives from the *Bodhisattva-bhūmi-śāstra*. Gathering beings and leading them to follow the Way is designated as "embracing." Because the situations of embracing differ, one approach explains six. What are the six names? 1. Sudden embracing; 2. Predominant embracing; 3. Embracing by taking; 4. Long-term embracing; 5. Short-term embracing; 6. Ultimate embracing. Among these six, the first three are differentiated according to the work of conversion: of these three, the first is suddenness in those who are converted; the second pertains to the person of the converter; the third is the full completion of the instruments of conversion. The latter three are differentiated according to spiritual faculties: the first is for dull faculties; the second is for middling faculties; the last is for keen faculties. Thus there are six kinds. "Sudden embracing" means regarding all living beings with the thought that they are one's parents, and according to one's own capability, benefiting them with all kinds of peace and happiness—this is called sudden embracing. "Predominant embracing" means that a bodhisattva, abiding in a venerable status, embraces sentient beings—this is called predominant embracing. According to the treatise, there are three [modes]: first, being a king and skillfully embracing the people; second, being a householder and skillfully benefiting relatives; third, being a father and benefiting his children equally without partiality. "Embracing by taking" means being able to embrace sentient beings with material wealth and the Dharma. "Long-term embracing" means that sentient beings with soft faculties are matured only after long conversion. "Short-term embracing" means that sentient beings with middling faculties are easy to convert and quickly attain purity. "Ultimate embracing" means that sentient beings with keen faculties are capable of purity in the present life, reaching the culmination of the benefit of conversion; hence it is called ultimate embracing. Question: How are these six subsumed under the four means of embracing? Answer: The four means of embracing apply universally across the six and do not correspond individually. The six means of embracing are thus.