The World-Honored One expounded a sūtra of the Great Vehicle called the “Innumerable Teachings, the Dharma for Bodhisattvas, the Dharma Upheld by the Buddhas.” Having expounded this sūtra, the Buddha sat cross-legged [facing the east], and entered into the samadhi for the purport of the innumerable teachings. His body and mind became motionless.

The three vehicles are [traces, which are used provisionally] in compliance with external [conditions]. [However], traces are diametrically opposed to li. Holding on to the words and deviating from the import, how could they not be startled [by] the doctrine of the One Vehicle? [The Buddha] is about to preach the Dharma Blossom. Therefore, first he [attempts to] reach out to their psychological makeups by preaching “the Immeasurable Doctrine” (Ananta-nirdeséa). Because they have remained among traces (chi) so long, when they suddenly hear that there are [in reality] no three [vehicles], they will not suddenly deviate from what they have been found of so far. If they deviated from what they have been found of so far, then they would turn back while they gaze at [the other] shore. Turning back while gazing at the [other] shore means that the Great Path (Tao) is abandoned. Therefore, [the preaching of One] should be done gradually. What is “the Immeasurable Doctrine”? It refers to something for which there is no external mark (laḳṣaṇa) at all. There is nothing like “many or little” and “deep or shallow.” It precisely speaks of the conduct of the Buddha. The import of his words contains something [ultimately] real; we call it the Doctrine Immeasurable. li is [so] broad that it liberates [one who gets in it] from the long passage of suffering; it is none other than the Greater Vehicle. Only the bodhisattvas can learn it. [Thus] he preached it for them.

The bodhisattvas are those who have not consummated li yet. [Hence], he must teach them about it.

The Buddha has consummated li: he “keeps it ever.” He has never forgotten or lost it: he [keeps it ever] “in mind.”

‘Movement and quiescence’ apply only to beings, but certainly not to the Sage. ‘The tracing of li to the end and the consummate realization of their nature (hsing) is referred to as the samādhi of the Immeasurable Doctrine. All that he will say after he rises from this samādhi should not allow any error. Thus, he has to verify it.