宋高僧傳 3.51

3.51

"Furthermore, regarding the rise of translation and the intention of its transmission, if the origins are not clarified, how can the future be shown? Now, investigating its propagation, I briefly set forth the outline. Teachings are varied, having three categories: 1. Exoteric teachings: the sūtras, vinaya, and śāstras of the various vehicles (differing from the Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra's 'explicit teaching is mostly the Bodhisattva-piṭaka teaching'); 2. Esoteric teachings: yoga, consecration (abhiṣeka), the five divisions, homa, the three mysteries, and maṇḍala rituals (in the Yogācārabhūmi, 'implicit teaching is mostly the Śrāvaka-piṭaka teaching'); 3. Mind teaching: directly pointing to the human mind, seeing one's nature to become a Buddha—the dhyāna method. The first wheel of the Dharma is the exoteric teaching, taking Kāśyapa Mātaṅga as its founding patriarch; the second, the command wheel (ājñā-cakra), is the esoteric teaching, taking Vajrabodhi as its founding patriarch; the third, the mind wheel (added here on the basis of its meaning), is the dhyāna method, taking Bodhidharma as its founding patriarch. Therefore, those who transmit the wheel of the Dharma transmit the sound of Dharma by means of the sound of Dharma; those who transmit the command wheel transmit the secret by means of the secret; those who transmit the mind wheel transmit mind with mind. These three teachings, three wheels, and three patriarchs, coming from west to east, converting ordinary beings into sages, have flowed through fifteen dynasties (Han, Wei, Jin, Song, Qi, Liang, Chen, Sui, Tang, Later Liang, Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, Later Zhou, and now the Great Song); the bequeathing of these dharma-gates' grand plans to descendants will ensure that for twelve thousand years the true teaching will flourish among their successors."