天台八教大意 1.24

1.24

三、明別教者，此約界外獨菩薩法。教理、智斷、行位、因果，別前二教、別後圓教，故名為別。《涅槃》云：「四諦因緣有無量相，非諸聲聞、緣覺所知。」諸大乘經廣明菩薩歷劫修行，行位次第互不相攝，並此教也。《華嚴》明十住、十行、十迴向為賢，十地為聖，妙覺為佛。《瓔珞》明五十二位，前加十信。《仁王》不論等覺，但五十一位。《金光明經》但出十地佛果。《勝天王》但明十地。《涅槃》明五行十功德。既是界外菩薩行位，隨機利益，豈得定說？

Third, clarifying the distinct teaching: this refers to the teaching exclusively for bodhisattvas beyond the realms. Its doctrine and principle, wisdom and severing, practices and stages, causes and fruits, are distinct from the preceding two teachings and distinct from the subsequent perfect teaching; hence it is called distinct. The Nirvāṇa [Sūtra] states: "The four truths and dependent origination possess immeasurable aspects, which are not known by śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas." The various Mahāyāna sūtras extensively explain the bodhisattva cultivating practice across kalpas, with practices and stages in sequence mutually not subsuming one another; all of this is this teaching. The Avataṃsaka explains the ten abodes, ten practices, and ten dedications as the worthies, the ten stages as the noble ones, and wondrous enlightenment as the Buddha. The Yingluo jing explains fifty-two stages, adding the ten faiths before them. The Renwang jing does not discuss virtual enlightenment, but only fifty-one stages. The Suvarṇaprabhāsa Sūtra only sets forth the ten stages and the fruit of buddhahood. The Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra of Suvikrāntavikrāmi-paripṛcchā only explains the ten stages. The Nirvāṇa Sūtra explains the five practices and ten virtues. Since these are the stages of practice for bodhisattvas beyond the realms, benefiting [beings] according to their capacities, how could there be a fixed explanation?