法華經義記 2.49

2.49

自此以下即是經之正宗。上來序說既竟，次辨正宗。凡制品目，是出經者意，亦可是傳佛聖旨述而不作也。若從理立名者，應言實相品，不應言方便品，只今日此經正顯昔日三乘教是方便。方便但三乘教，當乎昔日之時，本是實教不名方便，既說今日一乘實相之理，此則形顯昔三乘是方便。是故下經文言「此經開方便門示真實相」；是則說今日因果真實之相，則顯昔日因果非是真實。今此品從所顯受名名為方便，方便義者是善巧之能，此如來方便智所說教詺教為門。實相者則是如來實智所說之理，因理為實相，為未說今日真實之理，方便門則有閉義，既說今日實相之理，則有開昔日方便門義，此品則有兩義，一則明今真實、二則顯昔是方便。

From here below is the main body of the sūtra. The preceding introductory explanation having been concluded, next the main body is determined. In general, instituting chapter titles is the intention of the compilers of the sūtras, or it may be transmitting the Buddha's holy intention: transmitting without creating. If the name were established on the basis of principle, it should be called the "Chapter on the Real Mark" and should not be called the "Chapter on Skilful Means"; it is only that this sūtra today directly reveals that the former teaching of the three vehicles was skilful means. Skilful means is merely the teaching of the three vehicles; at the time of the past, it was originally a real teaching and was not called skilful means, but once today's principle of the real mark of the One Vehicle is preached, this comparatively reveals that the former three vehicles were skilful means. Therefore, the sūtra text below says: "This sūtra opens the door of skilful means and displays the real mark." This means that preaching the real mark of cause and effect today reveals that the cause and effect of the past were not real. Now this chapter receives its title from what is revealed, and is named "Skilful Means." The meaning of skilful means is the efficacy of being clever and appropriate; the teaching preached by this expedient wisdom of the Tathāgata is termed a "door." The real mark is the principle preached by the Tathāgata's real wisdom; on the basis of the principle it is the real mark. Because today's real principle had not yet been preached, the door of skilful means had the sense of being closed; once today's principle of the real mark is preached, it has the sense of opening the former door of skilful means. Thus this chapter has two meanings: first, clarifying today's reality; second, revealing that the past was skilful means.