法華經義記 7.82

7.82

此品中明弘經菩薩具四種行，則能離危得安、遠苦得樂，是故出經者仍為品目也。前解言：第四段別流通開三顯一之義，有四品經而判為三段，第一〈法師品〉及〈見寶塔〉兩品經，先明通經者勳深、受持者報命覓通經之人，第二〈持品〉一品則明會福樂善之徒，相與佛前發誓受命通經，皆言不愛身命惜無上道。但上〈持品〉未通經之時，有毀謗之咎、身命之憂，是則下品菩薩本欲發誓通經，既見惡世多難，便起退轉之心罷通經之意。是故此品是第三如來則用安樂行故接下品退墮之人，則言若能具此四行者天魔不能忤，則於惡世中亡身濟物沒命度人，是則下品之人因此起弘經之心，更起渡人之意也。前又解言：此三段前一後一各有二，中間自有五別。今此中有二者，第一文殊問，第二如來答也。今且就問中自有二階：第一先讚上能通經者，第二從「世尊」以下正作問也。

In this chapter it is explained that if a bodhisattva who propagates the sūtra is endowed with the four kinds of practice, then he is able to leave peril and obtain peace, distance himself from suffering and attain joy; therefore, the translator of the scripture accordingly made this the chapter title. As previously explained: in the fourth section, the meaning of the specific circulation that opens the three and manifests the One, there are four chapters of the scripture divided into three sections: the first two chapters, the 'Dharma Master' and the 'Apparition of the Jewel Stupa', first explain the profound merit of those who propagate the sūtra and the retribution of those who receptively uphold it, summoning and seeking people to propagate the sūtra; the second, the single 'Upholding Chapter', explains the followers who assemble blessings and delight in the good, together before the Buddha making vows and receiving the command to propagate the sūtra, all saying that they do not begrudge their bodily lives but cherish the unsurpassed path. However, before they propagate the sūtra in the previous 'Upholding Chapter', there is the fault of defamation and the peril to bodily life; thus lower-grade bodhisattvas who originally wished to vow to propagate the sūtra, seeing that an evil age has many difficulties, would give rise to a regressive mind and cease the intention to propagate the sūtra. Therefore, this chapter is the third, where the Tathāgata uses peaceful and joyful practices to gather in lower-grade people who regress and fall away, stating that if one can be endowed with these four practices, heavenly māras cannot oppose them, and in an evil age they can sacrifice their bodies to rescue beings and give up their lives to liberate people; thus lower-grade people, on this basis, give rise to the mind to propagate the sūtra and further give rise to the intention to deliver people. As previously explained again: among these three sections, the preceding one and the succeeding one each have two [divisions], while the middle one inherently has five distinctions. Now, within this [chapter] there are two parts: first, Mañjuśrī inquires, and second, the Tathāgata replies. Now, in the inquiry itself there are two stages: first, initially praising those above who are able to propagate the sūtra; second, from 'World-Honoured One' downward, directly posing the question.