佛祖統紀 3.77

3.77

The author comments: This is because for a class of inferior faculties such as Śāriputra, the Avataṃsaka brought no benefit. From the sudden the gradual was opened, sequentially guiding them: into the initial gradual of the Deer Park, where through the Four Truths and Twelvefold Dependent Origination they jointly realized the lesser fruit; into the middle gradual of the Vaipulya, where one-sidedness was rebuked and the lesser broken down, so that they jointly yearned for the great Dharma; and into the final gradual of the Prajñā, where they transferred the teaching and were entrusted with the wealth, taking charge of and managing the family estate. Therefore, it is collectively named "gradual."