法華經義記 8.51

8.51

「爾時佛告彌勒菩薩摩訶薩」自此下十一品半，是第三大段流通說。前言流通中有二：從此下竟〈妙莊嚴王品〉十品半，是此第一化他流通；第二餘有〈普賢勸發品〉，是自行流通。前又解言：兩流通中各開有三。今且就化他流通有三者，第一從此下竟〈常不輕品〉三品半經，歎能流通者勳深報重，以命覓通經之人，此即命下方菩薩，但下方諸人未被前命故。第二即是〈神力品〉中初五行一文，即是下方之徒堪通經者受命。第三從〈神力品〉中「佛於文殊師利大眾前出廣長舌」下盡〈妙莊嚴王品〉凡有六品半經，正付屬文。就此三段中第一第三各開為三，中間不開。且明第一段中有三者：第一此半品就因門命覓通經人，第二〈隨喜品〉舉因果命覓通經人，第三〈法師功德〉及〈常不輕〉此二品單舉果命覓通經人。何以得知？此品中明聞經功德，聞經功德即是因，後二品明得六根清淨，即是果也。〈隨喜功德品〉中明格量聞經功德，亦明得人相具足，故得知因果雙明。就此三世段中各有二。且明第一段中有二者：第一就佛在世明四品人聞經功德，第二就佛滅度後明五品人聞經功德。今者就第一先明佛在世四品人者，即作四段：第一品人中自有長行有偈頌，下三人皆無偈頌。「又阿逸多若有聞佛壽命長遠」，此是第二品人也。「何況廣聞是經」，此是佛在世第三品人聞經功德也。「阿逸多若男子女人聞我壽命長遠深心信解，則為見佛常在耆闍崛山」，是佛在世第四品人聞經功德也。

From "At that time the Buddha addressed the Bodhisattva-mahāsattva Maitreya:" downwards, the eleven and a half chapters constitute the third major section, the exposition of dissemination. It was previously stated that within dissemination there are two [parts]: from here downwards through the end of the chapter "King Subhavyūha", ten and a half chapters, this is the first, the dissemination of transforming others; the second is the remaining chapter "The Encouragement of Samantabhadra", which is the dissemination of one's own practice. Previously, it was also explained: within each of the two disseminations, three divisions are opened. Now, proceeding provisionally with the three within the dissemination of transforming others: first, from here downwards through the end of the chapter "Never Disparaging", three and a half chapters of the sūtra, praise those who are capable of dissemination as having profound merit and heavy recompense, and summon and seek people who will disseminate the sūtra—this means summoning the bodhisattvas from below, but because the individuals from below had not received the prior summoning; second, which is the single passage of the first five lines within the chapter "Supernatural Power", that is, the company from below who are capable of disseminating the sūtra receive the command; third, from the chapter "Supernatural Power", from "The Buddha, before Mañjuśrī and the great assembly, put forth his broad and long tongue" downwards through the end of the chapter "King Subhavyūha", in all six and a half chapters of the sūtra, which is the actual text of entrustment. Within these three sections, the first and the third are each opened into three, while the middle is not opened. Now to clarify that within the first section there are three: first, this half chapter summons and seeks people who will disseminate the sūtra with respect to the door of cause; second, the chapter "Rejoicing" summons and seeks people who will disseminate the sūtra by adducing both cause and fruition; third, the two chapters "Merits of the Dharma Master" and "Never Disparaging" summon and seeks people who will disseminate the sūtra by solely adducing fruition. How is this known? In this chapter, the merit of hearing the sūtra is clarified, and the merit of hearing the sūtra is precisely the cause; the subsequent two chapters clarify obtaining the purification of the six sense faculties, which is precisely the fruition. In the chapter "Merit of Rejoicing", the assessment and weighing of the merit of hearing the sūtra is clarified, and attaining the complete bodily marks of a human being is also clarified, so we know that cause and fruition are both clarified. Within these three sections, there are each two. Now to clarify that within the first section there are two: first, with respect to the Buddha's presence in the world, the merit of hearing the sūtra for four grades of persons is clarified; second, with respect to after the Buddha's extinction, the merit of hearing the sūtra for five grades of persons is clarified. Now, regarding the first, first clarifying the four grades of persons during the Buddha's presence in the world, this is divided into four sections: the person of the first grade itself has both prose and verse, while the lower three persons all lack verse. "Moreover, Ajita, if there is anyone who hears of the Buddha's life-span being long and enduring": this is the person of the second grade. "How much more so one who hears this sūtra extensively": this is the merit of hearing the sūtra of the third grade of person during the Buddha's presence in the world. "Ajita, if a man or woman, hearing that my life-span is long and enduring, generates faith and understanding with a profound mind, this person will see the Buddha constantly residing on Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa": this is the merit of hearing the sūtra of the fourth grade of person during the Buddha's presence in the world.