法華經義記 8.38

8.38

「餘失心者」此下，為上現在益物中第三不滅現滅作譬。上本有四階：第一明王宮生不生，第二明滅不滅，第三明而現滅，第四釋所以不滅而現滅之意。今不為前三階作譬，唯為第四階作譬也。上釋中本自有四：第一見佛在世時不生難遭之想恭敬之心，第二歎佛世難值，第三明現滅有利益仍生恭敬然種善根，第四總結現滅之意。今唯為前三階作譬，不為第四總結作譬也。今第一減三行，為第一作譬；從「父作是念」以下五行餘，為第二歎佛世難值作譬；第三「是時諸子聞父背喪」以下四行，為第三仍生恭敬生善作譬也。今者增一明義，第一有二，第二譬有三，第三有四也。第一譬有二者：初「餘失心者見其父來」下一行半，正為見佛在世不生恭敬不生善作譬；第二「所以者何」下一行餘，釋不生善意也。就第二譬中有三：第一「父作是念此子可愍」以下二行餘，正為佛世難值作譬；第二「即作是言」下二行，為方便唱滅作譬；第三言「作是教已復至他國」下一行，正明雙林入於涅槃作譬。而諸弟子由未決定生涅槃之想者，無異諸子見父至他國猶生未死之想，亦至聞使來方生死想，無異諸弟子見焚身之後分身舍利決定生於涅槃之想。「遣使還」者，相傳解言，只用如來滅後八斛四斗舍利為使也。就第三仍生恭敬生善譬中有四者：第一「是時諸子聞父背喪」下一句，總明苦惱；第二「而作是念若父在者」下一行，明憶父在時利益，內合可解；第三「今者捨我遠喪他國」以下一行，別明失父故憂惱；第四「心遂醒悟」下一行餘，正為生善作譬也。

'The others who had lost their minds': this and what follows makes a parable for the third [part] in the above benefiting of beings in the present, [namely] manifesting extinction while unextinguished. Above, there were originally four tiers: first, explaining that birth in the royal palace is non-birth; second, explaining that extinction is non-extinction; third, explaining that nevertheless extinction is manifested; fourth, explaining the intention behind manifesting extinction while unextinguished. Now, no parables are made for the first three tiers; a parable is made only for the fourth tier. Within the above explanation, there were originally four: first, seeing that when the Buddha is in the world, one does not generate the thought of it being difficult to encounter or a mind of reverence; second, praising the era of a Buddha as difficult to encounter; third, explaining that manifesting extinction has benefits, as they will then generate reverence and thus plant wholesome roots; fourth, summarizing the intention of manifesting extinction. Now, parables are made only for the first three tiers; no parable is made for the fourth summary. Now, the first [part], short of three lines, makes a parable for the first; from 'The father had this thought' onward, five lines and more, makes a parable for the second, praising the era of a Buddha as difficult to encounter; the third, from 'At that time, the sons, hearing that their father had died' onward, four lines, makes a parable for the third, still generating reverence and giving rise to the wholesome. Now, to clarify the meaning by adding one: the first has two, the second parable has three, and the third has four. In the first parable there are two: first, one and a half lines under 'The others who had lost their minds, seeing their father come' directly makes a parable for seeing the Buddha in the world and not generating reverence or the wholesome; second, one line and more under 'Why is this?' explains the intention behind not generating the wholesome. Within the second parable there are three: first, two lines and more under 'The father had this thought: these sons are pitiable' directly makes a parable for the Buddha's era being difficult to encounter; second, two lines under 'He immediately spoke these words' makes a parable for using skilful means to proclaim extinction; third, one line under the statement 'Having given this instruction, he went again to another country' directly makes a parable for entering nirvāṇa at the Twin Trees. That the disciples had not yet decisively generated the thought of nirvāṇa is no different from the sons, seeing their father go to another country, still thinking he was not dead, and only upon hearing the messenger arrive generating the thought of death; it is no different from the disciples, upon seeing the dividing of the relics of his body after cremation, decisively generating the thought of nirvāṇa. As for 'sending a messenger back', the traditional explanation says this simply refers to using the eight hu and four dou of relics after the Tathāgata's extinction as the messenger. Within the third parable of still generating reverence and giving rise to the wholesome, there are four: first, one line under 'At that time, the sons, hearing that their father had died' generally explains their anguish; second, one line under 'And had this thought: if our father were present' explains remembering the benefits when the father was present, the internal application of which is understandable; third, one line under 'Now he has abandoned us and died far away in another country' specifically explains grief and anguish at losing their father; fourth, one line and more under 'Their minds thereupon awakened' directly makes a parable for giving rise to the wholesome.