法華經義記 6.46

6.46

第二所稟譬之中有二，一者是所稟家之本，二者正出所稟也。「密雲彌布遍覆三千大千世界」，此是第一所稟家之本，本是雲也。內合用如來身形及聲教譬雲。「一時等澍其澤普洽」，此是第二正出所稟，所稟者是雨，以譬如來聲教所宣之法，即是雨等被眾生如天等雨草木，但明此草木同稟天雨生長有昇降，如眾生同聽佛說法增長善根有昇降之殊也。

Within the second parable, that of that which is received, there are two parts: first is the root belonging to that which is received, and second directly sets forth that which is received. 'Dense clouds spread widely, covering the great trichiliocosm'—this is the first, the root belonging to that which is received, the root being the clouds. In internal application, the Tathāgata's physical form and verbal teaching are used as the parable for the clouds. 'Pouring down equally at one time, their moisture is pervasive'—this is the second, directly setting forth that which is received; that which is received is the rain, used as a parable for the Dharma proclaimed by the Tathāgata's verbal teaching. That is, the rain covers sentient beings equally just as heaven rains upon grasses and trees equally; it simply clarifies that although these grasses and trees equally receive the rain from heaven, their growth has degrees of higher and lower, just as sentient beings equally hear the Buddha preach the Dharma, yet the increase of their good roots has distinctions of higher and lower.”