四教義 12.5

12.5

Fifth, explaining the stages of the four teachings in terms of the metaphor of the five flavors: The Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra explains differences in the metaphor of the five flavors so as to establish the differing characteristics of the stages determined across the four teachings. The sūtra says: 'Ordinary beings are like milk; srotaāpannas are like curds; sakṛdāgāmins are like raw butter; anāgāmins are like clarified butter; and arhats and pratyekabuddhas are like ghee.' This metaphor's intent is presumably to reveal the stages elucidated in the Tripiṭaka teaching. The sūtra also says: 'Ordinary beings are like milk; śrāvakas are like curds; pratyekabuddhas are like raw butter; bodhisattvas are like clarified butter; and the Buddha is like ghee.' This metaphor's intent is presumably to reveal the stages elucidated in the shared teaching. The sūtra also says: 'Ordinary beings are like milk mixed with blood; arhats are like pure milk; pratyekabuddhas are like curds; bodhisattvas are like raw and clarified butter; and the Buddha is like ghee.' This metaphor's intent is presumably to reveal the stages elucidated in the distinctive teaching. The sūtra also says: 'In the Snowy Mountains there is a grass named forbearance; if cows eat it, they immediately yield ghee. The grass of forbearance is a metaphor for the eightfold noble path; milk is a metaphor for the twelve divisions of scriptures; and whoever is able to cultivate the eightfold noble path immediately sees the Buddha-nature and abides in great nirvāṇa.' This is a metaphor for the bodhisattva of the perfect teaching who, from the initial generating of the mind [for bodhi], immediately opens the Buddha's knowledge and vision, sees the Buddha-nature, and abides in great nirvāṇa. The Nirvāṇa Sūtra explains these four metaphors, which compare to the stages elucidated in the four teachings, and their meaning is fully evident. If one does not believe that the stages elucidated in the four teachings differ, how could one interpret these four kinds of metaphors of the five flavors? Now, in explaining that the stages elucidated in the preceding four teachings correspond to these four metaphors, at first glance it seems as if one sees it with one's own eyes; but the sage's esoteric intent is inherently difficult to know, so how could one cling to it definitively! Furthermore, the Nirvāṇa Sūtra says: 'It is like someone placing poison in milk all the way up to ghee, which can also kill people.' This metaphor should admit of two applications: if one explains the meaning in terms of the five flavors of scriptures and teachings, everywhere one is able to see the Buddha-nature and enter nirvāṇa. This is the indeterminate doctrinal gate; the matter is explained below. If the meaning of killing people is explained in terms of stages, the capacities and conditions across the four stages and five flavors are indeterminate; according to when their Mahāyāna capacity is aroused, they are all brought to extinction through the Tathāgata's extinction, and hence it shares the meaning of killing people.