教觀綱宗 1.37

1.37

Ultimate identity is the stage beyond training in the three vehicles. First is the fourth arhat fruit of the Small Vehicle. This contains three meanings: first, slayer of the thieves; second, worthy of offerings; third, non-arising. Having severed delusions of view and thought of the three realms completely, the bondage of causes is already severed, while the bondage of fruition still remains; this is called nirvāṇa with remainder. When the body is reduced to ashes and consciousness is extinguished, it is called nirvāṇa without remainder. Second is the fruit of the pratyekabuddha of the middle vehicle; this person's faculties are somewhat sharper, contemplating the twelve links of dependent origination in forward and reverse orders to sever the delusions of view and thought. Although identical with the arhat [in this severing], they further encroach upon habit energies, and thus rank above the śrāvaka. Third is the Buddha fruit of the Great Vehicle. This person's faculties are exceptionally sharp; from the initial generation of the aspiration, conditioning the object of the four truths, they give rise to the four universal vows and are called a bodhisattva practicing the six perfections. During the first asaṃkhyeya kalpa, although phenomenal practice is strong, contemplation of principle is still weak; compared with the śrāvaka, they are at the stage of the outer ordinary person. In the second asaṃkhyeya kalpa, understanding of the truths becomes gradually clear; they are at the stage of heat. In the third asaṃkhyeya kalpa, understanding of the truths turns even clearer; they are at the stage of summit. When the six perfections are fulfilled, they abide further for a hundred kalpas cultivating the causes of the marks and characteristics; they are at the stage of lower forbearance. Next, entering the stage of succession, they are born in Tuṣita Heaven, and up to the times of entering the womb, leaving the womb, going forth from the household life, subduing Māra, and sitting motionless, this is the stage of middle forbearance. In the next single kṣaṇa they enter upper forbearance; in the next single kṣaṇa they enter the highest mundane dharma; giving rise to the true uncontaminated thirty-four minds, they suddenly sever views and thought, eliminating both active defilements and habit energies without remainder, and sitting beneath the wooden Bodhi tree with fresh grass for a seat, they achieve the inferior manifestation body (such as Śākyamuni's sixteen-foot body, Maitreya's one hundred sixty-foot body, and the like). Receiving the invitation of King Brahmā, they turn the wheel of the Dharma three times, deliver beings of the three faculties, and enter extinction when their conditions are exhausted. Ultimately, together with the arhat and pratyekabuddha, they equally realize the biased real Dharma-nature, with no further body, wisdom, direct, or environmental [retribution] to be found.