法界圖記叢髓錄 2.30

2.30

The Ancient Record states: 'The three lifetimes have multiple levels. 1. In terms of retribution: seeing and hearing in the past, understanding and practice in the present, realization and entry in the future. 2. In terms of realms: seeing and hearing within the realm, obtaining the Dharma supramundanely, and realizing completion supra-supramundanely. Alternatively, within the realm pervades seeing, hearing, understanding, and practice; supramundane is obtaining the Dharma; and supra-supramundane is realizing completion. 3. In terms of intrinsic portion and superior progress: seeing and hearing prior to the ten faiths, understanding and practice in the ten faiths, and realization and entry upon the completion of the ten faiths through superior progress. 4. In terms of the gate of increasing faith and understanding: seeing and hearing in the ten faiths, understanding and practice in the three stages of worthiness, and realization and entry in the ten stages (bhūmis). 5. In terms of inferential and actual realization: seeing and hearing before the stages, understanding and practice from the first to the seventh stage, and realization and entry from the eighth stage upward. 6. In terms of the One Vehicle and the three vehicles: seeing and hearing in the fourth stage, understanding and practice in the fifth, sixth, and seventh stages, and realization and entry in the eighth stage. 7. In terms of the One Vehicle meaning of the assigned gates of the five vehicles: seeing and hearing in the eighth stage, understanding and practice in the ninth stage, and realization and entry in the tenth stage. 8. In terms of spiritual friends (kalyāṇamitra): Mañjuśrī is seeing and hearing, Megheśvara onward is understanding and practice, Maitreya's declaration "In the future you shall see me" is realization and entry; further, the spiritual friend Samantabhadra is the ocean of realization-fruit.'