Gosho 小乗大乗分別抄 The Differences between Hinayana and Mahayana

　菩薩と申すは必ず四(し)弘(ぐ)誓願(せいがん)をお(起)こす。第一衆生(しゅじょう)無辺(むへん)誓願(せいがん)度(ど)の願、成就(じょうじゅ)せずば第四の無(む)上(じょう)菩提(ぼだい)誓願証(せいがんしょう)の願も成就すべからず。

Again, the persons known as bodhisattvas in all cases take the so-called four universal vows, the first of which reads, “Living beings are numberless: I vow to save them.” If this vow is not fulfilled, then it is impossible to fulfill the fourth vow, which reads, “Enlightenment is supreme: I vow to attain it.”

Bodhisattvas invariably make four universal vows. Without fulfilling their first vow to save innumerable living beings, they cannot fulfill their fourth vow to attain the supreme enlightenment.

前(ぜん)四味(しみ)の諸経にては菩薩・凡夫は仏になるべし、二乗は永く仏になるべからず等云云。

In the sutras that are comparable to the first four flavors [of milk, cream, curdled milk, and butter], it is stated that bodhisattvas and ordinary mortals can achieve Buddhahood, but that persons of the two vehicles can never become Buddhas.

It is expounded in the sutras of the four inferior flavors that bodhisattvas and common mortals are able to attain Buddhahood, while the people of the two vehicles never will [attain enlightenment], for all eternity….

而(しか)るをかし(賢)こげなる菩薩も、はかなげなる六(ろく)凡(ぼん)も共に思へり、我等仏になるべし、二乗は仏にならざれば、かし(賢)こくして彼(か)の道には入ざりけると思ふ。

As a result the bodhisattvas in their wisdom, as well as ordinary mortals in the six lower worlds, ignorant though they are, would all think to themselves, “We can become Buddhas, but persons of the two vehicles cannot do so, therefore it is wise not to follow their path!”

Thus, smart bodhisattvas and foolish common mortals of the six paths assumed that they could attain enlightenment. They also believed that those of the two vehicles were unable to attain Buddhahood, and that they had been wise enough to avoid entering the paths of the two vehicles.


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　つづく　 To be continued

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