天台八教大意 1.24

1.24

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?