Just as those who stop all activities at night are bound to resume their work on the next day unless they have completed their tasks, those who learn Mahayana Buddhism will never be able to achieve nirvana and live in peace without learning the ultimate Buddhist truths revealed in the Nirvana Sutra, even if they have read all other sutras and studied all other Buddha's teachings.
譬(たと)えば闇夜に諸の営作する所が一切、皆(みな)息(や)むも、もし未だ訖(おわ)らざる者は、要(かな)らず日月を待つが如し。大乗を学する者が契経[1]、一切の禅定を修すといえども、要らず大乗大涅槃日を待ち、如来秘密の教えを聞きて然(しか)して後、及[2]当に菩提業を造り正法に安住すべし。