[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [法華經義記](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1715) › 4.23 # 法華經義記 4.23 法華經義記 4.23 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [4.23](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1715.4.23) 「長者見是大火從四面起」此下竟「無求出意」是第二長者見火譬，此即譬上〈方便品〉中第二「舍利弗當知我以佛眼觀」下有四行偈，明如來在法身地見眾生為五濁八苦所昏。但上〈方便品〉中有三段：第一明能見，第二明所見，第三起悲愍之心。今此譬中亦作三段譬上三段：第一言「長者見」明能見，即譬上〈方便品〉中「舍利當知我以佛眼觀」是也。「是大火從四面起」此是第二明所見，即譬上「見六道眾生貧窮無福慧」備明佛見五濁，今明四生眾生備有五濁，皆起煩惱，故言從四面起也。「即大驚怖」此下是第三階，明長者既見宅中火起燒逼諸子，便起驚怖之心，此即譬上〈方便品〉譬本之中第三階「為是眾生故而起大悲心」，明如來既見眾生為五濁所昏，起悲愍之心。就中有三，第一「即大驚怖」一句，正為大悲作譬；第二「而作是念」下竟「安隱得出」，明不自為；第三「而諸子等」下竟「怖」，出所為人。今言「即大驚怖」者，悲意忽至因之為驚，內合如來昔日已於二萬億佛所曾教化眾生，于時已作得度因，自爾已後更復貪著五塵廣起煩惱，失昔日之解，悲意之事，故言驚也。非唯直失解而已，亦恐眾生廣起煩惱斷絕善根成一闡提，墮三途彌劫受苦，故言怖也。「而作是念我雖能於此所燒之門安隱得出」者，是第二明怖不自為。 > "The elder saw this great fire break out from all four sides": from here down to "having no intention of seeking to get out" is the second parable, that of the elder seeing the fire. This corresponds to the second part in the "Expedient Means" chapter above, where below "Śāriputra, you should know that when I contemplate with the buddha-eye" there are four lines of verse, clarifying that the Tathāgata, dwelling on the ground of the Dharma-body, sees sentient beings confounded by the five turbidities and the eight sufferings. But in the "Expedient Means" chapter above there were three sections: first, clarifying the seer; second, clarifying what was seen; third, giving rise to a mind of pity and compassion. Now in this parable there are likewise three sections paralleling the three sections above: first, the words "the elder saw" clarify the seer, which parallels "Śāriputra, you should know that when I contemplate with the buddha-eye" above. "This great fire break out from all four sides" is the second, clarifying what was seen, which parallels the preceding "Seeing sentient beings in the six destinies, poor, lacking merit and wisdom," fully clarifying the Buddha's seeing of the five turbidities. Here it clarifies that sentient beings of the four forms of birth are fully beset by the five turbidities and all give rise to afflictions; hence it says "break out from all four sides." "He was greatly alarmed and frightened": from here downwards is the third stage, clarifying that once the elder saw the fire break out in the house, burning and oppressing his sons, he gave rise to an alarmed and frightened mind. This parallels the third stage in the source of the parable in the "Expedient Means" chapter above: "For the sake of these sentient beings, I gave rise to the mind of great compassion," clarifying that once the Tathāgata saw sentient beings confounded by the five turbidities, he gave rise to a mind of pity and compassion. Within this there are three parts: first, the single phrase "he was greatly alarmed and frightened" directly serves as the parable for great compassion; second, from "and had this thought" down to "safely and peacefully escape" clarifies that it was not for himself; third, from "yet the sons" down to "frightened" introduces the persons for whose sake he felt this. Now, in saying "he was greatly alarmed and frightened," a compassionate thought suddenly arrived, and because of this he was alarmed. Applied internally: the Tathāgata in the past had already taught and transformed sentient beings in the presence of two trillion buddhas, and at that time had already established the cause for their crossing over; since then, they had again greedily clung to the five sense objects and extensively aroused afflictions, losing their former understanding—a matter for compassionate concern; hence it says "alarmed." Not only had they simply lost their understanding, but he also feared that sentient beings, extensively giving rise to afflictions, would cut off their wholesome roots, become icchantikas, and fall into the three miserable paths to suffer pain across kalpas; hence it says "frightened." "And had this thought: 'Although I can safely and peacefully escape through this scorched gate'" is the second, clarifying that his fright was not for himself. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 4.22](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1715.4.22) - [Next: 4.24](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1715.4.24) - [Up: 4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1715.4) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1715~en-mt.4.23) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1715.4.23](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1715.4.23) · Pramāṇa