華嚴五十要問答 1.32

1.32

問：大師及小師差別云何？答：依小乘教，和上為大師，闍梨為小師，佛非大師非小師。依三乘教，佛為大師，餘者竝為小師。何以故？若小乘人別位制入無餘涅槃果故，權於下位立大小師。一乘大小師，依理為正耳，非由相事也。

Question: What is the distinction between a great master and a minor master? Answer: According to the Hīnayāna teaching, the upādhyāya is the great master and the ācārya is the minor master; the buddha is neither a great master nor a minor master. According to the triyāna teaching, the buddha is the great master, and all the others are minor masters. Why is this? Because for Hīnayāna people, entering the fruit of nirvāṇa without remainder is designated as a separate stage, hence great and minor masters are provisionally established in lower stages. As for the great and minor masters in the Ekayāna, it is correct solely according to principle, not based on phenomenal characteristics.