摩訶止觀 4.54

4.54

Second, as for the precepts being slack while the vehicle is urgent: this person has meager virtue and heavy defilements, driven by afflictions; these literal precepts are all devoured and destroyed by the rākṣasa, yet they exclusively uphold the principle-based precepts, and their contemplative practice continues uninterrupted. As with the states of awareness discussed above, applying the mind within the six hindrances, Aṅgulimāla exemplifies its character. Because the literal precepts were slack, upon the end of life they fall into the three wretched destinies, undergoing retributive punishment. Among the vehicles, which vehicle is strongest? The strongest pulls first. If the vehicle of analyzing emptiness is strong, with a body in the three wretched paths one encounters Maitreya Buddha, hears the Tripiṭaka sūtras, and can then attain the path. If the vehicle identical with emptiness is urgent, with a body in the three wretched paths one encounters Maitreya Buddha, hears the Prajñā and Vaipulya, and attains the path. If the vehicle identical with the provisional is urgent, with a body in the three wretched paths one encounters Maitreya Buddha, hears the Huayan and other teachings, and attains the path as one of dull faculties. If the vehicle identical with the middle is urgent, with a body in the three wretched paths one encounters Maitreya Buddha, hears the Huayan Sūtra, and attains the path as one of sharp faculties. Therefore, when the Buddha expounded the various gradual and sudden sūtras, dragons, ghosts, animals, and beasts all assembled in the congregation—this is precisely what it means. Because one broke the literal precepts, one received a body in the three wretched realms; because one upheld contemplation of principle, one saw the Buddha and attained the path. The Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra says: 'One who is slack regarding the precepts is not called slack; one who is slack regarding the vehicle is truly called slack.' This refers precisely to this proposition.