四教義 1.13

1.13

Fourth, examining and determining the perfect teaching. Question: The perfect teaching also has morality, meditation, and wisdom; why is it not named the Tripiṭaka? It also has the principle of true emptiness; why is it not the shared? It also has successive, differentiated stages and dharma gates; why is it not the distinctive? Answer: Morality, meditation, and wisdom expounded in the perfect teaching are all discerned in terms of suchness, the true mark, Buddha-nature, and nirvāṇa; how could they be identical to the biased and shallow morality, meditation, and wisdom of the Tripiṭaka? The equal principle of Buddha-nature and true emptiness cannot be known by śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas, much less entered by them; therefore it is not the shared. Its diverse dharma gates, stages, practices, and ranks all accord with the true mark and encompass all dharmas; from the initial single stage, there are none not complete in all stages; therefore it is not the distinctive. Since the three meanings do not hold, it is named solely the perfect teaching. Thus, although the four names of the four teachings are mutually shared in common, when probing their principles and realities, names are established according to their proper teaching and must not be conflated. If the perfect teaching gathers the other three, it is like having yet many servants and attendants guarding it.