摩訶止觀 3.210

3.210

然漸漸非圓漸，可得成圓漸；漸圓非圓圓，不可得成圓圓。何者？《法華》云：「汝等所行是菩薩道。」故漸漸成圓漸。漸圓權設三教之果，不可更成妙覺之佛。例：小小非大小，可得成大小；小大非大大，不可得成大大。權權非實權，可得成實權；權實非實實，不可得成實實。何者？三教果頭，有教無人，故權實不可成實實。半滿、漸頓，例應如此分別，不復煩文也。

However, the gradual-gradual is not the perfect-gradual, but can become the perfect-gradual; the gradual-perfect is not the perfect-perfect, and cannot become the perfect-perfect. Why is that? The Lotus Sūtra says: "What you are practicing is the bodhisattva path"; therefore the gradual-gradual becomes the perfect-gradual. The gradual-perfect provisionally establishes the fruits of the three teachings, and cannot further become the Buddha of subtle awakening. By analogy: the small-small is not the great-small, but can become the great-small; the small-great is not the great-great, and cannot become the great-great. The provisional-provisional is not the real-provisional, but can become the real-provisional; the provisional-real is not the real-real, and cannot become the real-real. Why is that? At the summit of the result in the three teachings, there is teaching but no person; therefore the provisional-real cannot become the real-real. Half and full, gradual and sudden, should be distinguished by analogy in this way, without multiplying words.