[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [大乘法苑義林章](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1861) › 1.11 # 大乘法苑義林章 1.11 大乘法苑義林章 1.11 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [1.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1861.1.11) 言略語廣門者，《瑜伽．決擇》六十四說「不了義經者，謂契經應頌、記別等教，世尊略說，其義未了應更當釋。了義教者與此相違，應知其相。」此中意說：雖是大乘明顯之教，初但略說，談理未盡、所明未周，名為不了，不是所詮非究竟理名為不了。由此即顯諸聲聞乘亦有了義，除契經等，餘自說等語具廣故，名了義經。大乘之中明顯之教，契經等中說法言略語未廣故，亦有不了。此依說義言有廣略名了不了，非約所詮理是究竟、非是究竟名了不了。此中第一為令有情捨邪歸正名了不了，一切佛經皆名了義，外道所說名為不了。第二為令捨小歸大名了不了，一切大乘皆名了義，諸小乘教名為不了。第三為令捨隱歸顯名了不了，一切大乘顯了言教皆名為了，雖是大乘說法隱密名為不了。第四為令知法廣略名了不了，諸重頌經言略不盡皆名不了，非重頌經言廣盡故說名為了。以此四門了不了義，釋一切教了不了言，故大乘經雖皆名了，而於其中復應取捨。勸諸弟子依了義者，隨其所應當廣思擇，隨所講教當應配之。上來總是教益有殊。 > Regarding the approach of abbreviated speech and extensive discourse: the sixty-fourth fascicle of the Viniścayasaṃgrahaṇī of the Yogācārabhūmi states: "A neyārtha sūtra refers to teachings such as sūtras, geyas, and vyākaraṇas, which the World-Honoured One stated in brief, and whose meaning is not yet definitive and should be further explained. A nītārtha teaching is the opposite of this, and its characteristics should be known accordingly." What is meant here is: even in the case of clear and explicit teachings of the Mahāyāna, if they initially only speak in brief, such that the discourse on the principle is not exhaustive and what is clarified is not comprehensive, they are called neyārtha; it is not because what is explained is not the ultimate principle that they are called neyārtha. From this it is clear that the various Śrāvakayāna teachings also have nītārtha: apart from sūtras and the like, the remaining \[genres such as\] udānas possess extensive discourse and are therefore called nītārtha sūtras. Within the Mahāyāna's clear and explicit teachings, because sūtras and the like speak the Dharma in brief expressions without extensive discourse, there are also neyārtha teachings. This differentiates nītārtha and neyārtha according to whether the words explaining the meaning are extensive or brief, not according to whether the principle explained is ultimate or non-ultimate. Among these \[four approaches\], the first differentiates nītārtha and neyārtha in order to cause sentient beings to abandon the false and return to the correct: all Buddhist sūtras are called nītārtha, and what is spoken by non-Buddhists is called neyārtha. The second differentiates nītārtha and neyārtha in order to cause them to abandon the lesser and return to the great: all Mahāyāna teachings are called nītārtha, and the various Hīnayāna teachings are called neyārtha. The third differentiates nītārtha and neyārtha in order to cause them to abandon the implicit and return to the explicit: all explicit verbal teachings of the Mahāyāna are called nītārtha, while those that expound the Dharma implicitly, even though Mahāyāna, are called neyārtha. The fourth differentiates nītārtha and neyārtha in order to cause them to know the brevity and extensiveness of the Dharma: verse-recapitulating sūtras are called neyārtha because their words are brief and inexhaustive, while non-verse-recapitulating sūtras are called nītārtha because their words are extensive and exhaustive. By means of these four approaches to nītārtha and neyārtha, the words 'nītārtha' and 'neyārtha' across all teachings are explained. Therefore, although Mahāyāna sūtras are all called nītārtha, one must still make selections among them. When urging disciples to rely on the nītārtha, they should deliberate extensively according to what is appropriate and match it to whatever teaching is being expounded. All the above pertains to differences in the benefits of the teachings. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 1.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1861.1.10) - [Next: 1.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1861.1.12) - [Up: 1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1861.1) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1861~en-mt.1.11) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1861.1.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1861.1.11) · Pramāṇa