The Nirvana Sutra, Vol. 4

     “In order to instill and guide sentient beings explicitly, the Buddha skillfully expounded on different topics based on their ability to comprehend. Hence, the Buddha also spoke of no-self and impermanence. Should the World-Honored One initially taught the notion of permanence, practitioners would consider this to be the same as the dharmas of non-Buddhists and would have left straight away.”  

     “To guide all my sound hearer disciples who show a remarkable similarity to infants in the way that they are still unable to understand thoroughly the permanent dharma; hence, I initially taught the notion of suffering and impermanence. Should my sound hearer disciples are gradually equipped with meritorious qualities, capable of cultivation according to the Mahayana sutras, only then will I speak of the six flavors in my teachings. What are the six flavors? They are the sour taste of suffering, the salty taste of impermanence, the bitter taste of selflessness, the sweet taste of bliss, the pungent taste of the self, and the blandness of permanence. In fact, the mundane world essentially comprises three flavors. Those are impermanence, selflessness, and non-bliss. Thus, it is in this cause and condition that afflictions turn into fuel, wisdom becomes the fire, and the meal of nirvana is then consummated; that which is permanent, blissful, and Self and Buddhist disciples will then be contented to take them.” 

「世尊如是，為欲調伏諸眾生故，善能分別，說消、不消。亦說諸法無我、無常。若佛世尊先說常者，受化之徒，當言此法與外道同，即便捨去。」

「我之所有聲聞弟子，亦復如是，如汝嬰兒，不能消是常住之法，是故我先說苦、無常。若我聲聞諸弟子等，功德已備，堪任修習大乘經典，我於是經，為說六味。云何六味？說苦醋味、無常醎味、無我苦味、樂如甜味、我如辛味、常如淡味。彼世間中有三種味，所謂無常、無我、無樂。煩惱為薪，智慧為火，以是因緣成涅槃飯，謂常、樂、我，令諸弟子悉皆甘嗜。」

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