法華經義記 6.25

6.25

「譬如童子」此下有七十一行半，是第二頌上第三廣領解。但上廣領解中本有二段，第一開譬，第二合譬。今者七十一行半偈，亦分為二：初有四十一行偈頌開譬，第二「佛亦如是」下有三十行半偈頌合譬也。上開譬中本有九譬，今就四十一行偈亦分為九段：初有十三行偈，頌第一父子相失譬；第二「傭賃展轉」下有七行半偈，頌第二父子相見譬；第三「即勅使者」下有三行偈，頌第三喚子不得譬；第四「即以方便」下有三行偈，頌第四喚子得譬；第五「長者於牖」下五行半偈，頌第五教作兒譬；第六「示其金銀」下有兩行偈，即頌第六付財物譬；第七「父知子心漸已廣大」下半行偈，頌第七見子志大譬；第八「欲與財物」下有四行半偈，頌第八付家業譬；第九「子念昔貧志意下劣」兩行偈，頌第九子歡喜也。今更道十三行頌第一，七行半頌第二，三行頌第三，復有三行頌第四，五行偈半頌第五，兩行頌第六，半行頌第七，四行半頌第八，兩行頌第九也。上第一父子相失譬中本有四：一者子離父，二者父覓子，三者子還近父，四者父憂念轉深。今者十三行亦具足頌此四段，但不次第復有闕略。今者一行半頌第一，次有六行半頌第二，次有兩行半超頌第四，次有兩行半追頌第三也。「譬如童子幼稚無識」一行半，先頌第一子離父。但上子離父中本有二段，一者言「背父而去」，二者言「向國而歸」。今此一行半唯頌背父而去，不頌向國而歸也。「其父憂念」此下六行半，頌上第二父覓子。上父覓子中本有二階，一者覓子不得，二者言「不以失一子之苦癈於家業大事」，今者具足頌，言「其父憂念四方推求」此半行頌覓子不得，上言「其父先來求之不得」也。「求之既疲」以下有六行，正頌上第二段不失家業大事也。「豪貴如是有大力勢」此下有兩行半偈，超頌第四父憂念轉深。上本有二階，一者失子之苦，二者假使作念得子之樂。今不頌假使作念得子之樂，唯頌念失子之苦。上言「父每念子與子離別五十餘年」也。「爾時窮子求索衣食」此下兩行半偈，追頌上第三子近父。上子近父亦有二段，一者近父之緣由，二者正明近父。今者亦具足頌，初兩行頌近父之由，次半行頌正明近父也。上近父緣由，言「時貧窮子遊諸聚落逕歷國邑」等，從五戒至五戒，故言從邑至邑。從十善至十善，故言從國至國也。「或有所得或無所得」者，今身修五戒十善遷此身得報，名有所得。感生後報者，名無所得也。又一解云：成就業感一期，名有所得；不成就者感於寄受，名無所得也。善法資身恒不足，故言羸瘦。非唯無善法亦備有九十八使，故言體生瘡癬也。「漸次經歷到父住城」，此半行頌上正明近父，上言「遇到其父所止之城」也。「傭賃展轉遂至父舍」此下七行半偈，頌第二父子相見譬。上譬中本有二段，第一明子見父，第二明父見子。今初有六行半頌第一子見父。「長者是時」下一行，頌父見子也。上子見父中本有四階，一者見父緣由，二者見父處，三者正明見父，四者生畏避之心。今者亦具足頌，初一句頌第一，次一句頌第二，次兩行半頌第三，次三行半頌第四也。「傭賃展轉」此一句，頌第一見父之緣由也。「遂至父舍」此一句，頌第二見父之處。上言「遂至父舍住立門側」，今者唯道父舍不道門側，義自顯也。「爾時長者於其門內」此下兩行半，頌第三正見父，上言「遙見其父踞師子床」等，「或有計算金銀寶物」者，有廣說有略說，故言計算。說與前人，故言出。化功歸己，故言內。「注記券疏」者，明因辨果，受記之事故，故言注記券疏也。「窮子見父豪貴尊嚴」以下三行半，頌上第四階生畏避之心，上言「窮子見父有大力勢，即懷恐怖悔來至此」也。「長者是時」此一偈，頌上父見子中有四段，今唯頌第一第二。上半行頌第一階見子處，上言「時富長者於師子座」也。「遙見其子默而識之」此半行，頌第二正明見子，上言「見子便識」，略不頌第三心大歡喜，亦略不頌第四開暢之念也。

"Like a young child..." From here down there are seventy-one and a half verses, which form the second part, versifying the third extensive receptive understanding above. However, within the extensive receptive understanding above, there were originally two sections: first, the unfolding of the parable; second, the application of the parable. Now, the seventy-one and a half verses are also divided into two: first, there are forty-one verses versifying the unfolding of the parable; second, from "The Buddha is also like this" down, there are thirty and a half verses versifying the application of the parable. Within the unfolding of the parable above, there were originally nine parables; now, within the forty-one verses, it is also divided into nine sections: first, there are thirteen verses versifying the first parable, the father and son losing each other; second, from "Hiring himself out, wandering..." down, there are seven and a half verses versifying the second parable, the father and son seeing each other; third, from "He then ordered a messenger..." down, there are three verses versifying the third parable, calling the son but failing to get him; fourth, from "He then used skilful means..." down, there are three verses versifying the fourth parable, calling the son and getting him; fifth, from "The elder through a window..." down, there are five and a half verses versifying the fifth parable, instructing him to act as his son; sixth, from "Showing him gold and silver..." down, there are two verses, which versify the sixth parable, entrusting the wealth; seventh, from "The father knew that the son's mind was gradually expanding..." down, there is half a verse versifying the seventh parable, seeing the son's broad aspiration; eighth, from "Wishing to give him the wealth..." down, there are four and a half verses versifying the eighth parable, entrusting the family estate; ninth, from "The son remembered his past poverty and base aspiration...", the two verses versify the ninth [parable], the son's rejoicing. Now to state it again: thirteen verses versify the first, seven and a half versify the second, three versify the third, another three versify the fourth, five and a half verses versify the fifth, two versify the sixth, half a verse versifies the seventh, four and a half versify the eighth, and two verses versify the ninth. Within the first parable above of the father and son losing each other, there were originally four parts: first, the son leaving the father; second, the father seeking the son; third, the son returning close to the father; fourth, the father's anxious longing deepening. Now, these thirteen verses also fully versify these four sections, but not in sequential order and with omissions. Now, one and a half verses versify the first; next, there are six and a half verses versifying the second; next, there are two and a half verses leaping ahead to versify the fourth; next, there are two and a half verses backtracking to versify the third. "Like a young child, infantile and without knowledge"—this verse and a half first versifies the first part, the son leaving the father. However, within the son leaving the father above, there were originally two sections: first, stating "turning his back on the father and departing"; second, stating "returning toward the homeland". Now this verse and a half only versifies turning his back on the father and departing, not versifying returning toward the homeland. "His father, anxiously longing..." From here down, six and a half verses versify the second part above, the father seeking the son. Within the father seeking the son above, there were originally two stages: first, seeking the son but not finding him; second, stating "not neglecting the great affairs of the family estate on account of the suffering of losing one son". Now it fully versifies them: the statement "His father, anxiously longing, searched in the four directions"—this half-verse versifies seeking the son but not finding him; above it stated: "His father had previously sought him but not found him." From "Having grown weary in searching..." down, there are six verses, directly versifying the second section above, not neglecting the great affairs of the family estate. "Noble and wealthy like this, possessing great power..." From here down there are two and a half verses, leaping ahead to versify the fourth, the father's anxious longing deepening. Above, there were originally two stages: first, the suffering of losing the son; second, hypothetically contemplating the joy of gaining the son. Now it does not versify hypothetically contemplating the joy of gaining the son, but only versifies contemplating the suffering of losing the son. Above it stated: "The father constantly thought of his son, having been separated from his son for over fifty years." "At that time, the destitute son sought clothing and food..." From here down, two and a half verses backtrack to versify the third above, the son approaching the father. The son approaching the father above also had two sections: first, the cause of approaching the father; second, directly clarifying approaching the father. Now it also fully versifies them: the first two verses versify the cause of approaching the father; the next half-verse directly clarifies approaching the father. The cause of approaching the father above stated: "At that time, the destitute son wandered through various settlements, passing through countries and cities..." etc. From five precepts to five precepts, hence it says from city to city. From ten wholesome actions to ten wholesome actions, hence it says from country to country. As for "sometimes getting something, sometimes getting nothing": cultivating the five precepts and ten wholesome actions in this life, when this life changes, one obtains retribution, which is called 'getting something'. If it evokes future retribution, it is called 'getting nothing'. Another explanation states: accomplishing karma evoking a single lifespan is called 'getting something'; if unaccomplished, evoking a temporary lodging, it is called 'getting nothing'. Wholesome dharmas sustaining the body are constantly deficient, hence it says "emaciated". Not only having no wholesome dharmas, but also fully possessing the ninety-eight propensities, hence it says "his body broke out in sores and ringworm". "Gradually passing through, he arrived at the city where his father resided"—this half-verse versifies directly clarifying approaching the father above; above it stated: "he happened upon the city where his father dwelt". "Hiring himself out, wandering, he finally arrived at his father's house"—from here down, seven and a half verses versify the second parable, the father and son seeing each other. Within the parable above, there were originally two sections: first, clarifying the son seeing the father; second, clarifying the father seeing the son. Now the first six and a half verses versify the first, the son seeing the father. From "The elder at that time..." down, one verse versifies the father seeing the son. Within the son seeing the father above, there were originally four stages: first, the cause of seeing the father; second, the place of seeing the father; third, directly clarifying seeing the father; fourth, giving rise to fear and aversion. Now it also fully versifies them: the first line versifies the first, the next line versifies the second, the next two and a half verses versify the third, and the next three and a half verses versify the fourth. "Hiring himself out, wandering"—this single line versifies the first, the cause of seeing the father. "He finally arrived at his father's house"—this single line versifies the second, the place of seeing the father. Above it stated: "He finally arrived at his father's house, stopping and standing beside the gate"; now it only speaks of the father's house and does not speak of the side of the gate, as the meaning is self-evident. "At that time the elder was inside his gate..." From here down, two and a half verses versify the third, directly seeing the father; above it stated: "He saw his father from afar, seated upon a lion throne..." etc. As for "sometimes calculating gold, silver, and precious items": there is extensive exposition and concise exposition, hence it says "calculating". Explaining to other people, hence it says "expending". The merit of transformation returning to oneself, hence it says "receiving". As for "recording bonds and ledgers": this clarifies causes and distinguishes fruits, being the matter of conferring predictions, hence it says "recording bonds and ledgers". From "The destitute son saw his father noble, revered, and majestic..." down, three and a half verses versify the fourth stage above, giving rise to fear and aversion; above it stated: "The destitute son saw his father having great power, and immediately harboured fear, regretting having come here." "The elder at that time..." This single verse versifies the father seeing the son above, which had four sections; now it only versifies the first and second. The upper half-verse versifies the first stage, the place of seeing the son; above it stated: "At that time the wealthy elder, upon the lion throne...". "Saw his son from afar, and recognized him in silence"—this half-verse versifies the second, directly clarifying seeing the son; above it stated: "Seeing his son, he immediately recognized him", omitting the third, great joy in mind, and also omitting the fourth, thoughts of openness and ease.