方便

upāya. Convenient to the place, or situation, suited to the condition, opportune, appropriate; but [lang id =1028]方 is interpreted as [lang id =1028]方法 method, mode, plan, and [lang id =1028]便 as [lang id =1028]便用 convenient for use, i. e. a convenient or expedient method; also [lang id =1028]方 as [lang id =1028]方正 and [lang id =1028]便 as [lang id =1028]巧妙, which implies strategically correct. It is also intp. as [lang id =1028]權道智 partial, temporary, or relative (teaching of) knowledge of reality, in contrast with [lang id =1028]般若智 prajñā, and [lang id =1028]真實 absolute truth, or reality instead of the seeming. The term is a translation of [lang id =1028]傴和 upāya, a mode of approach, an expedient, stratagem, device. The meaning is-- teaching according to the capacity of the hearer, by any suitable method, including that of device or stratagem, but expedience beneficial to the recipient is understood. Mahāyāna claims that the Buddha used this expedient or partial method in his teaching until near the end of his days, when he enlarged it to the revelation of reality, or the preaching of his final and complete truth; Hīnayāna with reason denies this, and it is evident that the Mahāyāna claim has no foundation, for the whole of its [lang id =1028]方等 or [lang id =1028]方廣 scriptures are of later invention. Tiantai speaks of the [lang id =1028]三乘 q. v. or Three Vehicles as [lang id =1028]方便 expedient or partial revelations, and of its [lang id =1028]一乘 or One Vehicle as the complete revelation of universal Buddhahood. This is the teaching of the <Lotus Sutra>, which itself contains [lang id =1028]方便 teaching to lead up to the full revelation; hence the terms [lang id =1028]體內 (or [lang id =1028]同體 ) [lang id =1028]方便, i. e. expedient or partial truths within the full revelation, meaning the expedient part of the Lotus, and [lang id =1028]體外方便 the expedient or partial truths of the teaching which preceded the Lotus; see the [lang id =1028]方便品 of that work, also the second chapter of the [lang id =1028]維摩經. [lang id =1028]方便 is also the seventh of the ten pāramitās.

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方即方法， 便即便宜， 猶善巧也。 謂如來說布施得大富， 說持戒得生天， 說忍辱得離諸瞋恚， 說精進得具諸功德， 說禪定得息諸散亂， 說智慧得捨諸煩惱， 如是種種方便， 開化眾生， 莫不為令超脫苦輪， 得諸法樂也。

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隨方因便， 以利導人。