華嚴五十要問答 1.32

1.32

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.