Question: Why is there no advancement from the Tripiṭaka Teachings?

Answer: In the Tripiṭaka teachings [the two truths are understood as] non-identical within this world. The Hinayānist attains enlightenment and is “an arhat who has destroyed his fundamental impurities” [and thus believes he has no higher goal to attain].⁵⁷² Therefore I do not discuss advancement [for those of the Tripiṭaka Teachingl.⁵⁷³ The other six are Mahāyāna teachings. If one wishes to advance, one must learn to leave the past [accomplishments] behind. Therefore I teach [the doctrine of] “advancement.”

Question: If there is no advancement [to a higher level for those of the Tripiṭaka Teaching], is there no encounter, with the final truth and ultimate enlightenment]?

Answer: The meaning of advancement is different from the meaning of “encounter.” When one has not yet encountered [the ultimate teaching as revealed in the Lotus Sūtra], there is no discussion of advancement [to the more profound Distinct or Perfect Teachings].

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This phrase is from the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa Sūtra where Mahākāśyapa expounds on the disadvantages of being a śrāvaka. Boin, Vimalakīrtinirdeśa Sūtra, 179, translates the context as follows: “It would be better to become guilty of the five acts of immediate fruition [ānantarya] than to be like us holy ones (arhat) who are completely delivered [atyantavimukta]. And why? Because those who become guilty of the five ānantarya still have the power to destroy these ānantarya, to produce the thought of enlightenment and gradually attain all the Buddha dharmas. While we, arhats, who have destroyed our impurities [kṣīṇāsrava], will never be capable of it.” return

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In other words, since arhatship is the highest goal in the Tripitaka Teaching, and they believe that there is no higher attainment, there is no sense in talking of “advancing” from the Tripiṭaka Teaching to the Mahāyāna levels of the Shared, Distinct, or Perfect Teaching. Nevertheless the problem remains that since, according to the Lotus Sūtra and a fundamental issue for Chih-i, everyone has the Buddha-nature and is destined for eventual Buddhahood, so there must be some sort of advancement even for those who have attained the “complete extinction” of arhatship in the Tripiṭaka teaching. return