法華經義記 1.30

1.30

二流通各有三段者，化他流通中有三段者，第一〈分別功德品〉中，從彌勒偈後長行初「佛告彌勒菩薩其有眾生聞佛壽命長遠如是」，乃至「能生一念信解」以下半品經，〈隨喜功德品〉、〈法師功德品〉、〈常不輕品〉，凡有三品半經，先明弘經益物者勳重報深，命覓弘經之人。第二從〈神力品〉初五行一文，明下方踊出菩薩堪弘經者，受命流通也。第三從〈神力品〉中「爾時世尊於文殊師利等大眾前現大神力」以下半品，〈囑累品〉、〈藥王菩薩品〉、〈妙音菩薩品〉、〈觀世音菩薩品〉、〈陀羅尼品〉、〈妙莊嚴王品〉，凡六品半經，正明如來以經付囑也。

The two propagations each have three sections. In the propagation for transforming others, there are three sections: First, in the 'Discrimination of Merits' chapter, from the prose beginning after Maitreya's verses where 'The Buddha addressed Bodhisattva Maitreya: "If there are sentient beings who hear that the Buddha's life-span is long and distant like this"' down to 'can generate a single thought of faith and understanding' and continuing for the latter half of the chapter, together with the 'Merits of Rejoicing in Accordance' chapter, the 'Merits of the Dharma Master' chapter, and the 'Never Disparaging' chapter—a total of three and a half chapters—it first clarifies that those who propagate the scripture to benefit beings have weighty merits and deep rewards, seeking out people to propagate the scripture. Second, from the beginning of the 'Supernatural Powers' chapter across five lines of a single text, it clarifies that the bodhisattvas welling forth from below, who are capable of propagating the scripture, receive the mandate to propagate it. Third, from the middle of the 'Supernatural Powers' chapter where 'At that time the World-Honoured One manifested great supernatural power before the great assembly of Mañjuśrī and others' through the latter half of that chapter, together with the 'Entrustment' chapter, the 'Bodhisattva Bhaiṣajyarāja' chapter, the 'Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara' chapter, the 'Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara' chapter, the 'Dhāraṇī' chapter, and the 'King Wonderful Adornment' chapter—a total of six and a half chapters—it directly clarifies that the Tathāgata entrusts the scripture.