Four kinds of knowledge

"O good man! There are four kinds of Knowledge that see the 12 links of interdependence. These are: 1) low, 2) middle, 3) top, and 4) topmost.

A person of the low position does not see the Buddha-Nature. Not gaining [it], he gains the way of a sravaka. Those of the middle position also do not see the Buddha-Nature. Noting the Buddha-Nature, they gain the way of the pratyekabuddha. Those of the top see, but not clearly. Not being clear, they live in the soil of the ten abodes. The topmost [persons] see clearly. So they attain unsurpassed Enlightenment. Because of this, we call the 12 links of interdependence the Buddha-Nature.

The Buddha-Nature is the All-Void of "Paramartha-satya". The All-Void of "Paramartha-satya" is the Middle Path. The Middle Path is the Buddha. The Buddha is Nirvana."

The Mahaparinirvana sutra
Translated into English by Kosho Yamamoto, 1973
http://nirvanasutra.net/

Many Blessings!
Neo