摩訶止觀 4.3

4.3

Sixth: Elucidating expedients. 'Expedient' (upāya) means skillfulness. Skillfully practicing, with a slight good root one is able to bring immeasurable practices to fruition and awaken understanding, entering the bodhisattva stages. The Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa says: 'Being able with small giving and small precepts to surpass śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas'—this is precisely the meaning. Furthermore, 'expedient' means the harmonious coming together of numerous conditions; because it can harmonize and constitute a cause, it can also harmonize and grasp the fruit. The Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā says: 'The Tathāgata's body does not arise from a single cause or a single condition; it arises from immeasurable merits.' To reveal this skillful capacity, we therefore discuss expedients.