華嚴五十要問答 1.14

1.14

問：諸教有情一切眾生，成佛前後自他云何？答：依小乘教，但一人成佛。若餘入成佛，前後不同時，若教化有情後時作佛，由無十方佛故。依三乘教，有十方佛，故得同時他處成佛。若他有情，亦得能化所化同時成佛，為進退不定故。若依一乘教，於念念中成佛，皆盡所化有情。在諸位中，十住以去乃至菩提皆盡眾生界，成位遍滿無有前後，為同一緣起大樹故也。

Question: In the various teachings, how do all sentient beings—oneself and others—relate in terms of earlier or later attainment of buddhahood?

Answer: According to the Hīnayāna teaching, only one person becomes a buddha. If others become buddhas, it is at different times, earlier or later; if they transform sentient beings, they become buddhas at a later time, because there are no buddhas of the ten directions. According to the triyāna teaching, there are buddhas of the ten directions; therefore, they can become buddhas simultaneously in other places. If it is other sentient beings, the transforming agent and the transformed can also become buddhas simultaneously, because advancement and regression are indeterminate. According to the Ekayāna teaching, in thought-moment after thought-moment one becomes a buddha, completely exhausting the sentient beings to be transformed. In all stages, from the ten abodes onward up to bodhi, they completely exhaust the realm of sentient beings; the attainment of stages is all-pervading without earlier or later, because they share the one great tree of pratītyasamutpāda.