法華經義記 6.47

6.47

「卉木叢林」此下是第三，正明稟澤增長譬，亦有二者，第一從「卉木叢林」下訖「各有所受」以來，名為受潤譬。第二從「一雲所雨」下訖「華果敷實」，名為增長譬。前明受潤，後明增長，內合明眾生初始聞佛說法，皆歡喜領受，如草木稟天雨一往受潤。後明增長者，明眾生昔日聞佛說法後相與增長善根，下合譬雖道「後生善處以道受樂」，此明報因得報果，非不有報因，但今日辨增長之義止取習因習果，明其增長之義。此兩譬中各有二階。受潤譬中有二者，第一從「卉木叢林及諸藥草」下訖「隨上中下」以下，此牒受潤之法，即是三草二木根莖枝葉者喻前所述五種人信戒定慧也。第二言「各有所受」此一句正明受潤之義，內合明眾生昔日聞佛說教各各受持，故言各有所受也。第二增長譬中有二階者，第一言「一雲所雨」先牒增長所由，所由者是雲雨，內合眾生所以得習善增長者，由有如來形聲。第二言「稱其種姓」下三句正明增長，此三句亦次第相生。初言「稱其種性」，此先舉增長之類，喻五乘人根性各有種類而得生長，此正明增長。「華果敷實」此釋成增長之相，若不增長云何言有華果之實也？

From “The shrubs, trees, thickets, and groves…” onwards is the third, directly clarifying the parable of receiving moisture and growing, which also has two parts: First, from “The shrubs, trees, thickets, and groves…” down to “…each receives [moisture],” is called the parable of receiving moisture. Second, from “Rained upon by the single cloud…” down to “…their flowers and fruits bloom and mature,” is called the parable of growing. The former clarifies receiving moisture, and the latter clarifies growth. In internal application, it clarifies that when sentient beings initially hear the Buddha preach the Dharma, they all joyfully accept it, just as grasses and trees receive the rain from heaven and are initially moistened. Clarifying growth later clarifies that after sentient beings heard the Buddha preach the Dharma in the past, their good roots mutually grew. Although the application of the parable below says 'afterwards they are born in good places and enjoy happiness through the path,' this clarifies gaining retribution fruitions from retribution causes; it is not that there are no retribution causes, but today, in discerning the meaning of growth, it only takes habituated causes and habituated fruitions to clarify the meaning of their growth. In each of these two parables there are two levels. Within the parable of receiving moisture there are two: First, from “The shrubs, trees, thickets, groves, and medicinal herbs…” down to “…according to superior, middling, and inferior,” repeats the dharma of receiving moisture; that is, the roots, stalks, branches, and leaves of the three grasses and two trees illustrate faith, precepts, concentration, and wisdom of the five kinds of persons previously described. Second, the phrase “each receives [moisture]” directly clarifies the meaning of receiving moisture; in internal application, it clarifies that when sentient beings in the past heard the Buddha preach the teaching, each received and upheld it, hence it says 'each receives [moisture].' In the second parable, that of growing, there are two levels: First, saying “Rained upon by the single cloud” first repeats the source of growth; the source is the clouds and rain. In internal application, the reason sentient beings are able to have their habituated good grow is due to having the Tathāgata’s form and voice. Second, the three phrases following “according to their species and nature” directly clarify growth; these three phrases also arise sequentially. First, saying “according to their species and nature,” first raises the types of growth, illustrating that the faculties and natures of the persons of the five vehicles each have their varieties and obtain growth; this directly clarifies growth. “Their flowers and fruits bloom and mature” explains the characteristics of growth; if there were no growth, how could there be the reality of flowers and fruits?