釋禪波羅蜜次第法門 2.40

2.40

First, directly explaining the differences among the methods of repentance: the causes for eliminating guilt each have their own methods. Just as when a garment is soiled with grease, if one washes it merely with water, it can never be removed, but Chinese soapberry and lye can eliminate it. The methods of eliminating guilt are also like this. Now, in explaining the methods of repentance, the doctrinal approaches are indeed numerous; to discuss the essentials, they do not exceed three kinds: first, repentance through ritual enactment, which aids the vinaya in explaining repentance; second, repentance through observing signs, which aids the methods of concentration in explaining repentance; third, repentance through observing non-arising, which aids the methods of wisdom in explaining repentance. These three kinds of repentance methods in their meaning run through both the Tripiṭaka and the Mahāyāna, but speaking according to the predominant usage: the former one method is mostly the repentance method of the Hīnayāna; the latter two methods are mostly the repentance methods of the Mahāyāna.