大通方廣懺悔滅罪莊嚴成佛經 1.6

1.6

At that time, the Bhagavat, with unobstructed wisdom, addressed the bodhisattvas: "Now, for the benefit of sentient beings, you inquire about this meaning. Listen attentively, listen attentively! Good sons, it is like a person who has three names for the one person: when young, he is called young; at twenty, he is called middle-aged; and when past eighty, he is called old. My present three vehicles are also just like this: for śrāvakas whose initial aspirations are small, I preach the Hīnayāna; for pratyekabuddhas of middling aspirations, I preach the middle vehicle; and for great bodhisattvas, persons of the great aspiration for the Path, I preach the Mahāyāna. Good sons, listen further now! The Principle has no two extremes; the destinations must share the same return. Though understandings follow different rules, in the end they form a single view. The Principle is the One Vehicle; it is divided into three. The vehicles of śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas both enter the Mahāyāna; and the Mahāyāna is none other than the Buddha Vehicle. Therefore, the three vehicles are indeed the One Vehicle."