Chapter 442:: You Might As Well Not Have Come
The Great.
The two are established with the Mahayana as the highest, the Tripitaka as the middle, and the Hinayana scriptures as the lowest. Among the Mahayana scriptures, the Shurangama Sutra, Lotus Sutra, Avatamsaka Sutra, Great Nirvana Sutra, and Vimalakirti Sutra are considered highest. The Prajnaparamita Lamp Treaty and Vajrasamadhi Sutra are considered middle. The Golden Light Victorious King Sutra, the Buddhadharma Mahayana Sutra, the Vast Square Great Adornment Sutra, and the Infinite Life Sutra are considered lowest. Among the Tripitaka scriptures, the Mahayana Infinite Life Sutra, Mahayana Vajra Top Sutra, Mahayana Three Jewels Sutra, and Mahayana Golden Light Sutra are considered highest. The Mahayana Treasure Accumulation Sutra and Mahayana Treasure Store Sutra are considered middle. The Mahayana Buddhadharma Sutra is considered lowest. Among the Hinayana scriptures, the Mahayana Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra is considered highest, the Mahayana Lotus Sutra is considered middle, and the Mahayana Great Nirvana Sutra is considered lowest.
The Mahayana scriptures were expounded in five periods: the Avatamsaka Sutra for the first period, the Agama Sutras for the second, the Vast Square Sutras for the third, the Prajnaparamita Sutras for the fourth, and the Lotus Sutra and Great Nirvana Sutra for the fifth.
The Mahayana scriptures have six kinds of Prajnaparamita: the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra is the first, the Prajnaparamita Sutra is the second, the Prajnaparamita Great Sutra is the third, the Prajnaparamita Tripitaka Sutra is the fourth, the Prajnaparamita Mahayana Sutra is the fifth, and the Prajnaparamita Infinite Life Sutra is the sixth.
The Mahayana scriptures have sixty kinds of Prajnaparamita: the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra is the first, the Prajnaparamita Sutra is the second, the Prajnaparamita Great Sutra is the third, the Prajnaparamita Tripitaka Sutra is the fourth, the Prajnaparamita Mahayana Sutra is the fifth, the Prajnaparamita Infinite Life Sutra is the sixth, and the Prajnaparamita Mahayana Infinite Life Sutra is the seventh.
The Mahayana scriptures have ten kinds of Dharma Realm: the Dharma Realm Sutra is the first, the Dharma Realm Great Sutra is the second, the Dharma Realm Tripitaka Sutra is the third, the Dharma Realm Mahayana Sutra is the fourth, the Dharma Realm Infinite Life Sutra is the fifth, the Dharma Realm Mahayana Infinite Life Sutra is the sixth, the Dharma Realm All Dharmas Sutra is the seventh, the Dharma Realm All Dharmas Great Sutra is the eighth, the Dharma Realm All Dharmas Tripitaka Sutra is the ninth, and the Dharma Realm All Dharmas Mahayana Sutra is the tenth.
The Mahayana scriptures have five kinds of Prajnaparamita Heart Sutras: the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra is the first, the Prajnaparamita Heart Great Sutra is the second, the Prajnaparamita Heart Tripitaka Sutra is the third, the Prajnaparamita Heart Mahayana Sutra is the fourth, and the Prajnaparamita Heart Infinite Life Sutra is the fifth.
The Mahayana scriptures have two kinds of Three Jewels Sutras: the Three Jewels Sutra is the first, and the Three Jewels Great Sutra is the second.
The Mahayana scriptures have three kinds of Dharma Gate Sutras: the Dharma Gate Sutra is the first, the Dharma Gate Great Sutra is the second, and the Dharma Gate Tripitaka Sutra is the third.
The Mahayana scriptures have seven kinds of Mahayana Infinite Life Sutras: the Mahayana Infinite Life Sutra is the first, the Mahayana Infinite Life Great Sutra is the second, the Mahayana Infinite Life Tripitaka Sutra is the third, the Mahayana Infinite Life Mahayana Sutra is the fourth, the Mahayana Infinite Life Infinite Life Sutra is the fifth, the Mahayana Infinite Life All Dharmas Sutra is the sixth, and the Mahayana Infinite Life All Dharmas Great Sutra is the seventh.
The Mahayana scriptures have six kinds of Lotus Sutras: the Lotus Sutra is the first, the Lotus Great Sutra is the second, the Lotus Tripitaka Sutra is the third, the Lotus Mahayana Sutra is the fourth, the Lotus Infinite Life Sutra is the fifth, and the Lotus All Dharmas Sutra is the sixth.
The Mahayana scriptures have four kinds of Avatamsaka Sutras: the Avatamsaka Sutra is the first, the Avatamsaka Great Sutra is the second, the Avatamsaka Tripitaka Sutra is the third, and the Avatamsaka Mahayana Sutra is the fourth.
The Mahayana scriptures have five kinds of Great Nirvana Sutras: the Great Nirvana Sutra is the first, the Great Nirvana Great Sutra is the second, the Great Nirvana Tripitaka Sutra is the third, the Great Nirvana Mahayana Sutra is the fourth, and the Great Nirvana Infinite Life Sutra is the fifth.
The Mahayana scriptures have two kinds of Vimalakirti Sutras: the Vimalakirti Sutra is the first, and the Vimalakirti Great Sutra is the second.
The Mahayana scriptures have three kinds of Vajrasamadhi Sutras: the Vajrasamadhi Sutra is the first, the Vajrasamadhi Great Sutra is the second, and the Vajrasamadhi Tripitaka Sutra is the third.
The Mahayana scriptures have four kinds of Golden Light Victorious King Sutras: the Golden Light Victorious King Sutra is the first, the Golden Light Victorious King Great Sutra is the second, the Golden Light Victorious King Tripitaka Sutra is the third, and the Golden Light Victorious King Mahayana Sutra is the fourth.
The Mahayana scriptures have three kinds of Buddhadharma Mahayana Sutras: the Buddhadharma Mahayana Sutra is the first, the Buddhadharma Mahayana Great Sutra is the second, and the Buddhadharma Mahayana Tripitaka Sutra is the third.
The Mahayana scriptures have two kinds of Vast Square Great Adornment Sutras: the Vast Square Great Adornment Sutra is the first, and the Vast Square Great Adornment Great Sutra is the second.
The Mahayana scriptures have five kinds of Mahayana Treasure Accumulation Sutras: the Mahayana Treasure Accumulation Sutra is the first, the Mahayana Treasure Accumulation Great Sutra is the second, the Mahayana Treasure Accumulation Tripitaka Sutra is the third, the Mahayana Treasure Accumulation Mahayana Sutra is the fourth, and the Mahayana Treasure Accumulation Infinite Life Sutra is the fifth.
The Mahayana scriptures have four kinds of Mahayana Treasure Store Sutras: the Mahayana Treasure Store Sutra is the first, the Mahayana Treasure Store Great Sutra is the second, the Mahayana Treasure Store Tripitaka Sutra is the third, and the Mahayana Treasure Store Mahayana Sutra is the fourth.
The Mahayana scriptures have six kinds of Mahayana Buddhadharma Sutras: the Mahayana Buddhadharma Sutra is the first, the Mahayana Buddhadharma Great Sutra is the second, the Mahayana Buddhadharma Tripitaka Sutra is the third, the Mahayana Buddhadharma Mahayana Sutra is the fourth, the Mahayana Buddhadharma Infinite Life Sutra is the fifth, and the Mahayana Buddhadharma All Dharmas Sutra is the sixth.
The Mahayana scriptures have six kinds of Dharma Realm Gates: the Dharma Realm Gate is the first, the Dharma Realm Gate Great Sutra is the second, the Dharma Realm Gate Tripitaka Sutra is the third, the Dharma Realm Gate Mahayana Sutra is the fourth, the Dharma Realm Gate Infinite Life Sutra is the fifth, and the Dharma Realm Gate All Dharmas Sutra is the sixth.
**[Figure 3.1]**
The Hinayana scriptures have four kinds of Prajnaparamita Heart Sutras: the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra is the first, the Prajnaparamita Heart Great Sutra is the second, the Prajnaparamita Heart Tripitaka Sutra is the third, and the Prajnaparamita Heart Mahayana Sutra is the fourth.
The Hinayana scriptures have three kinds of Lotus Sutras: the Lotus Sutra is the first, the Lotus Great Sutra is the second, and the Lotus Tripitaka Sutra is the third.
The Hinayana scriptures have five kinds of Great Nirvana Sutras: the Great Nirvana Sutra is the first, the Great Nirvana Great Sutra is the second, the Great Nirvana Tripitaka Sutra is the third, the Great Nirvana Mahayana Sutra is the fourth, and the Great Nirvana Infinite Life Sutra is the fifth.
The Hinayana scriptures have six kinds of Vimalakirti Sutras: the Vimalakirti Sutra is the first, the Vimalakirti Great Sutra is the second, the Vimalakirti Tripitaka Sutra is the third, the Vimalakirti Mahayana Sutra is the fourth, the Vimalakirti Infinite Life Sutra is the fifth, and the Vimalakirti All Dharmas Sutra is the sixth.
The Hinayana scriptures have two kinds of Vajrasamadhi Sutras: the Vajrasamadhi Sutra is the first, and the Vajrasamadhi Great Sutra is the second.
The Hinayana scriptures have four kinds of Golden Light Victorious King Sutras: the Golden Light Victorious King Sutra is the first, the Golden Light Victorious King Great Sutra is the second, the Golden Light Victorious King Tripitaka Sutra is the third, and the Golden Light Victorious King Mahayana Sutra is the fourth.
The Hinayana scriptures have five kinds of Buddhadharma Mahayana Sutras: the Buddhadharma Mahayana Sutra is the first, the Buddhadharma Mahayana Great Sutra is the second, the Buddhadharma Mahayana Tripitaka Sutra is the third, the Buddhadharma Mahayana Mahayana Sutra is the fourth, and the Buddhadharma Mahayana Infinite Life Sutra is the fifth.
The Hinayana scriptures have six kinds of Vast Square Great Adornment Sutras: the Vast Square Great Adornment Sutra is the first, the Vast Square Great Adornment Great Sutra is the second, the Vast Square Great Adornment Tripitaka Sutra is the third, the Vast Square Great Adornment Mahayana Sutra is the fourth, the Vast Square Great Adornment Infinite Life Sutra is the fifth, and the Vast Square Great Adornment All Dharmas Sutra is the sixth.
Four. The scriptures expounded by these three teachings are of more than ten kinds. The One Vehicle teaching is considered highest. The Mahayana teaching is considered middle. The Hinayana teaching is considered lowest. The One Vehicle teaching includes the Lotus Sutra, Avatamsaka Sutra, Great Nirvana Sutra, Vimalakirti Sutra, Golden Light Sutra, Vast Square Great Adornment Sutra, Infinite Life Sutra, and others. The Mahayana teaching includes the Prajnaparamita Sutra, Lankavatara Sutra, Samadhiraja Sutra, Mahasannipata Sutra, Dhammapada Sutra, Vimalakirti Sutra, Diamond Sutra, and others. The Hinayana teaching includes the Middle Agama Sutras, Long Agama Sutras, Miscellaneous Agama Sutras, Ekottara Agama Sutras, Four-Part Vinaya, Ten-Section Vinaya, Five-Part Vinaya, Mahāsāṃghika Vinaya, and others.
Five. The scriptures and treatises relied upon by these five schools are the Three Treatises School, Consciousness-Only School, Lotus School, Avatamsaka School, and True Word School of China, which are considered orthodox. The Three Treatises School relies on the Madhyamaka-śāstra, the Twelve-Gate Treatise, the Sata-śāstra, the Mahaprajnaparamita Sastra, the Mahayana Abhisamayalankara, the Abhidharma Pitaka, the Tripitaka, and others. The Consciousness-Only School relies on the Samadhiraja Sutra, the Yogacarabhumi Sastra, the Thirty Verses on Consciousness Only, the Vijnaptimatratasiddhi Sastra, the Lankavatara Sutra, and others. The Lotus School relies on the Lotus Sutra, the Great Nirvana Sutra, the Mahasannipata Sutra, the Mahayana Zhi Guan, the Mahayana Zhi Guan, the Tripitaka, and others. The Avatamsaka School relies on the Avatamsaka Sutra, the Great Nirvana Sutra, the Bodhisattva Garland Sutra, the Mahayana Awakening of Faith, the Tripitaka, and others. The True Word School relies on the Mahavairocana Sutra, Vajra Top Sutra, Susiddhi Sutra, the Tripitaka, and others.
Six. The scriptures established by these five vehicles of the Mahayana orthodox lineage are the Rooftop School, Three Treatises School, Consciousness-Only School, Lotus School, Avatamsaka School, and True Word School, which are considered highest. The Chan School is considered middle, and the Pure Land School is considered lowest.
