念佛鏡 2.20

2.20

Answer: "If it were a single level, it might perhaps be the ekayāna; since they speak of three levels, how could that constitute the meaning of the ekayāna? Furthermore, according to the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra: 'In the buddha lands of the ten directions, there is only the Dharma of the one vehicle; there are not two and not three, except when spoken by the Buddha as an upāya.' 'Not two' means: in relation to bodhisattvas, there are no pratyekabuddhas; 'not three' means: in relation to pratyekabuddhas, there are no śrāvakas. Furthermore, 'not two' means: in relation to the Buddha's teaching, there is only the one vehicle, with no śrāvakas or pratyekabuddhas. Why is this? The ultimate fruit of the two vehicles is the first ground of the Mahāyāna, which is why it says 'not two'; 'not three' means there is no bodhisattva vehicle, because the cause and fruit of the ten grounds are not yet ultimate, which is why there is 'not three.' According to the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra: 'There is only the one buddha vehicle; for the sake of a resting place, two were spoken. Now I speak the truth to you: what you attained is not extinction; for the sake of the Buddha's omniscient wisdom, you should generate great vigor.' Thus we know that the Buddha is one whose awakening is fulfilled and whose fruit is complete, transcending all stages and grounds; this is the supreme vehicle, called the ultimate stage, and is named the ekayāna; truly it is beyond the reach of any other vehicle. Therefore, when Preceptor Daxing was alive, there were also several members of the Three Levels who abandoned the teachings of the Three Levels and took refuge in the Preceptor to practice buddhānusmṛti."