法華經義記 6.12

6.12

「復經少時父知子意漸已通泰成就大志自鄙先心」，此是第七見子志大譬。此則領上火宅中第五見子出難譬，上言「見諸子等安穩得出火宅」，〈方便品〉中第五「我見佛子等志求佛道者」，見大乘機發義也。就此譬中有三階，第一先明時節，「復經少時」者，轉教之後去《法華》座不遠，故言少時。只逕說《維摩》教，故言經時也。第二「父知子意漸已通泰」下正明志大譬，「漸已通泰」明無五濁，「成就大志」正明大乘機發。第三「自鄙先心」者，鄙昔日是小機而無希取意，今日之大形昔日之小足可鄙也。

"After the lapse of a short time, the father knew that the son's mind had gradually become open and at ease, that he had accomplished great resolve, and that he despised his former mindset." This is the seventh parable, seeing the son's resolve become great. This then corresponds to the fifth parable in the burning house, seeing the sons escape the peril, where it earlier stated: "seeing that all his sons had safely escaped from the burning house"; and in Chapter [2], "Expedient Means", the fifth: "I see that the Buddha's sons and others resolve to seek the Buddha path," which expresses the meaning of the manifestation of the capacity for the Great Vehicle. Within this parable there are three stages: first, first clarifying the period of time. "After the lapse of a short time" means that after transmitting the teaching, it was not far from the assembly of the Lotus Sūtra, hence it says "a short time." It merely passed through the preaching of the teaching of the Vimalakīrti[-nirdeśa], hence it says "passed through time." Second, from "the father knew that the son's mind had gradually become open and at ease" onward, directly clarifies the parable of the resolve becoming great: "gradually become open and at ease" clarifies being free of the five turbidities; "accomplished great resolve" directly clarifies the manifestation of the capacity for the Great Vehicle. Third, "despised his former mindset" refers to despising that formerly he was of small capacity with no thought of aspiring or taking anything; today's greatness forms a contrast with yesterday's smallness, which is well worthy of contempt.