法華經義記 5.34

5.34

問者言：「如來慈父，等視如子，且又放光普照，有識皆蒙。今復言善人應為說，惡人莫為說。非唯生分別之心，亦違慈父之意。」解者言：「放光普照表慈悲平等，今明善人應為說，惡人莫為說，此則示身子弘經益物之方。善人應為說即是勸善，惡人莫為說即是誡惡。且又強為惡人說者，非唯直生不信之心，亦復增長誹謗之罪，是故《涅槃》言：諸佛聖人不為眾生作煩惱因緣。又欲斥彼惡人令改惡行善也。」

The questioner says: "The Tathāgata is a compassionate father who views [all] equally as his sons; moreover, he emits light that shines everywhere, so that all who possess consciousness are covered by it. Now you say again that one should explain it for good persons and not explain it for evil persons. Not only does this give rise to a discriminating mind, but it also goes against the compassionate father's intent." The explicator says: "Emitting light that shines everywhere manifests the equality of compassion. Now clarifying that one should explain it for good persons and not explain it for evil persons shows Śāriputra the method of propagating the sūtra to benefit beings. That one should explain it for good persons is exhorting goodness; that one should not explain it for evil persons is admonishing against evil. Furthermore, if one forcibly explains it for evil persons, not only will it directly give rise to a mind of disbelief, but it will also increase their transgression of slandering [the Dharma]. Therefore the Nirvāṇa [Sūtra] says: 'The Buddhas and sages do not act as causes and conditions of defilement for sentient beings.' Furthermore, it is intended to reprove those evil persons so as to cause them to reform their evil and practice goodness."