佛祖統紀 3.22

3.22

This has two senses: mutual production and richness or thinness. Regarding mutual production: the Miaoxuan says, "After the initial sudden, the gradual is next opened. Therefore, the Nirvāṇa [Sūtra] says, 'From the Buddha emerge the twelve divisions of scriptures; from the twelve divisions of scriptures emerge the sūtras,' comparing it to milk coming from cows, curd coming from milk, and so forth. Producing one another in sequence does not take richness or thinness." It also says, "Calling it milk does not aim at thinness; it is because it is the initial and the fundamental." Regarding richness and thinness: the Yili says, "The five flavours in the sutra merely serve as metaphors for the richness and thinness of the five periods across the [Buddha's] lifetime. Although richness and thinness differ, all come from cows." Yuan of Caotang says, "Mutual production is a metaphor for the teachings; richness and thinness is a metaphor for capacities. As a metaphor for the teachings, there is sequence: from the sudden, opening the gradual; entering the gradual and becoming progressively deeper, ultimately converging in the perfect. As a metaphor for capacities, there are superior and inferior: initially deaf and mute, rebuked and sifted out, yet ultimately attaining the prediction [of Buddhahood]." (passage) The single five flavours serve as two sets of metaphors. Although what provides the metaphor is broad, what is illustrated by the metaphor is narrow. Now, in discussing the sequence of the Buddha's entire teaching career, we take solely the sense of mutual production.