法華經義記 8.52

8.52

「又復如來滅後」自此竟品，是第二就佛滅後明五品人聞經功德，自有長行與偈為二。就長行五品人中，唯初第一品人明聞經直起隨喜心不生誹謗而已，此人功德最劣又不格量，直有長行又無偈頌，留此第一品人將入〈隨喜功德品〉中格量。國城布施乃至教化一切眾生皆令得四果，由自不如此第一品人聞法華經起隨喜心，此義至〈隨喜功德〉中當更明也。第二「何況受持讀誦之者，斯人則為頂戴如來」，此是第二品人聞經功德，此不道用頭實戴如來行，只言尊重如來無異頭頂戴也。第三「阿逸多若我滅後聞是經典」，此下是第三品人聞經功德。第四「況復有人能持是經兼行布施」下，是第四品人聞經功德。第五「若人讀誦受持是經」下，是第五品人聞經功德。

From "Furthermore, after the Tathāgata's extinction" downwards through the end of the chapter, this is the second, clarifying the merit of hearing the sūtra of the five grades of persons after the Buddha's extinction, which itself has prose and verse as two parts. With respect to the five grades of persons in the prose, only the person of the very first grade clarifies that upon hearing the sūtra one directly gives rise to a mind of rejoicing without generating slander, and nothing more; this person's merit is the most inferior and is not measured or weighed, having only prose and no verse, leaving this person of the first grade to be brought into the chapter "Merit of Rejoicing" to be measured and weighed. [Even if one practices] the giving of countries and cities, up to transforming all sentient beings and causing them all to attain the four fruitions, it still does not equal this person of the first grade who, hearing the Lotus Sūtra, gives rise to a mind of rejoicing; this meaning will be clarified further when we reach "Merit of Rejoicing". Second, "How much more so those who accept, uphold, read, and recite it; this person will be carrying the Tathāgata on the crown of their head": this is the merit of hearing the sūtra of the person of the second grade; this does not mean physically carrying the Tathāgata on one's head while walking, but merely says that honouring the Tathāgata is no different from carrying him on the crown of one's head. Third, from "Ajita, if after my extinction someone hears this classic" downwards, this is the merit of hearing the sūtra of the person of the third grade. Fourth, from "How much more so if there is a person who can uphold this sūtra and concurrently practice giving" downwards, this is the merit of hearing the sūtra of the person of the fourth grade. Fifth, from "If a person reads, recites, accepts, and upholds this sūtra" downwards, this is the merit of hearing the sūtra of the person of the fifth grade.