法華經義記 8.74

8.74

「爾時佛告」此下是品中第二段，如來答也。今就此答中自有六段：第一先明事本；第二「爾時彼佛」下，明過去佛為此菩薩說《法華經》；第三「一切眾生憙見」下，正明本事苦行流通此經；第四「佛告宿王華」下即會古今；第五「宿王華若有發心」下，勸通經；第六「宿王華譬如」下，廣歎經，正明流通也。從「爾時佛告宿王華」下十一行餘，是第一明事本。「爾時彼佛」此下是佛答中第二，明昔日佛為此菩薩說《法華經》也。「是一切眾生」此下是佛答中第三段，正明本事也。今就此中自有四段：第一是「一切眾生憙見菩薩」下明聞經修行；第二從「滿萬二千歲已得現一切色身三昧」以下，明得現果；第三「即作是念」以下，明知恩念報恩；第四「即時入是三昧」以下，正明報恩供養也。就此第四自有二：第一先明現身供養，第二後身供養。且就現身供養中自分為二：第一「即時入是三昧」下，先明財物供養；第二「從三昧起而自念言」下，正明燒身供養。今且就明燒身供養中自有五階：第一先明念欲燒身也；第二「即服諸香」下，明服香；第三從「滿千二百歲」下，正明燒身；第四「其中諸佛」以下，諸佛歎；第五「其身火燃」以下，明所經時節。從「一切眾生憙見」此下是第二，明後身供養。就中自有二：第一先明供養緣起；第二從「爾時一切眾生憙見」下，正苦行通經。今且就緣起之中自有九階：第一先明現生王家也。第二「即為父王」下，為王說本因緣。第三「大王我今當還供養此佛」下，明已語王道欲供養淨明德佛。第四「白已」下，明昇空而往。第五「往至佛所」下，明至佛所致敬。第六「爾時一切」下，明白佛道。佛那得猶在？今不用此解，只是自慶言我猶故及世尊在世也。第七明日月淨明德佛答，言「涅槃時至」也。第八明從「又勅」下，即明淨明德佛以法付此菩薩也。第九「如是日月淨明」下，明淨明德佛下入涅槃也。明緣起竟。「爾時一切」此下是第二，正明後身苦行通經。今就此中自有四段：第一先明見佛滅度生戀慕之心；第二即以海此岸栴檀明焚身供養；第三火滅之後明供養舍利；第四「爾時一切」下，明仍捨臂供養。就此第四段中自有七重：第一「從此」下，告大眾欲燒臂。第二「作是語已」下，正明燒臂。第三「令無數求聲聞眾」下，明時眾得益。第四「爾時諸菩薩」下，時眾憂惱。第五「于時一切眾生憙見」下明發誓。第六「作是誓已」下，明臂復本。第七「當爾之時」，明感動之相也。「佛告宿王華於意云何」下，佛答，有六段，此是第四段會通古今也。「宿王若有發心」此下是第五，仍勸人苦行通經也。「宿王華譬如一切川流江河」下，是第六廣歎經正明流通。就中自有兩段：第一歎經，第二「是故宿王華」以下，正明流通也。就此兩段各有二階。歎經二者：初總歎此經一部，次「宿王華若有人聞」下，別歎。此二階各有三重。總歎中有三者：第一「譬如一切川流」下十譬，格量歎；第二「宿王華此經能救一切」下，名當體歎；第三「若人得聞此《法華經》」下，舉功用歎也。「宿王華若有人聞是藥王」以下，是第二別歎。就中亦有三者：第一「從此」以下，舉現在世為歎；第二「若如來滅後」下，舉未來世為歎；第三「宿王華此菩薩成就如是」下，總結歎也。第二正明流通中有二者：第一「是故宿王華」下，以此一品付囑流通；第二「宿王汝當以神通」下，以此一部付囑正明流通。就中有正、有釋也。

From "At that time the Buddha addressed" below is the second section of the chapter, the Tathāgata's reply. Now, within this reply, there are six sections: first, explaining the root of the matter; second, from "At that time that buddha" below, explaining that a past buddha preached the Lotus Sūtra for this bodhisattva; third, from "Sarvasattvapriyadarśana" below, directly explaining the past events of ascetic practice in circulating this sūtra; fourth, from "The Buddha addressed Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña" below, which synthesises the ancient and the present; fifth, from "Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña, if there is one who resolves" below, exhorting the dissemination of the sūtra; sixth, from "Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña, just as" below, extensively praising the sūtra and directly explaining circulation. From "At that time the Buddha addressed Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña" downwards for eleven lines or more is the first, explaining the root of the matter. From "At that time that buddha" below is the second in the Buddha's reply, explaining that in the past a buddha preached the Lotus Sūtra for this bodhisattva. From "This Sarvasattva-" below is the third section in the Buddha's reply, directly explaining the past events. Now within this there are four sections: first, from "Bodhisattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana" below, explaining hearing the sūtra and practising; second, from "having completed twelve thousand years, he attained the samādhi of manifesting all physical bodies" below, explaining the attainment of the present fruition; third, from "he then had this thought" below, explaining recognising kindness and thinking of repaying kindness; fourth, from "he immediately entered this samādhi" below, directly explaining repaying kindness through offerings. Within this fourth there are two [parts]: first, explaining the offering in the present body, and second, the offering in a subsequent body. As for the offering in the present body, it is divided into two: first, from "he immediately entered this samādhi" below, explaining material offerings; second, from "arising from the samādhi, he thought to himself" below, directly explaining the offering of burning his body. Now within explaining the offering of burning his body, there are five stages: first, explaining the thought of wishing to burn his body; second, from "he then consumed various perfumes" below, explaining the consumption of perfumes; third, from "having completed one thousand two hundred years" below, directly explaining the burning of his body; fourth, from "the buddhas therein" below, the praise by the buddhas; fifth, from "his body blazed with fire" below, explaining the duration of time that elapsed. From "Sarvasattvapriyadarśana" below is the second, explaining the offering in a subsequent body. Within it there are two [parts]: first, explaining the causal conditions of the offering; second, from "At that time Sarvasattvapriyadarśana" below, directly engaging in ascetic practice to disseminate the sūtra. Now within the causal conditions, there are nine stages: first, explaining the manifestation of rebirth in a royal family; second, from "he then for his father the king" below, explaining to the king the original causes and conditions; third, from "Great King, I should now return to make offerings to this buddha" below, explaining that he told the king of his wish to make offerings to the Buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī; fourth, from "having spoken" below, explaining ascending into the air and going; fifth, from "arriving at the buddha's place" below, explaining paying homage upon reaching the buddha's place; sixth, from "At that time Sarva-" below, explaining his addressing the buddha. How could the buddha still be present? This interpretation is not adopted now; it is simply his rejoicing to himself, saying that he still arrived while the World-Honoured One was in the world. Seventh, explaining that the Buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī replied, saying "the time of nirvāṇa has arrived"; eighth, explaining that from "moreover commanded" below, the Buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī entrusted the Dharma to this bodhisattva; ninth, from "Such was Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsa-" below, explaining that the Buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī entered nirvāṇa. The explanation of the causal conditions is finished. From "At that time Sarva-" below is the second, directly explaining using ascetic practice in the subsequent body to disseminate the sūtra. Now within this there are four sections: first, explaining the arising of longing and yearning upon seeing the Buddha's extinction; second, explaining the offering of burning the body using sandalwood from this shore of the sea; third, after the fire was extinguished, explaining the offering to the relics; fourth, from "At that time Sarva-" below, explaining still offering his arms. Within this fourth section there are seven stages: first, from "From this" below, telling the great assembly that he wishes to burn his arms; second, from "having spoken these words" below, directly explaining the burning of his arms; third, from "causing countless seekers of the śrāvaka [vehicle]" below, explaining that the contemporary assembly attained benefit; fourth, from "At that time the bodhisattvas" below, the sorrow and distress of the contemporary assembly; fifth, from "At that time Sarvasattvapriyadarśana" below, explaining the making of the vow; sixth, from "having made this vow" below, explaining the arms being restored to their original state; seventh, from "At that time", explaining the signs of being moved. From "The Buddha addressed Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña: 'What do you think?'" below, in the Buddha's reply of six sections, this is the fourth section, synthesising the ancient and the present. From "Nakṣatrarāja, if there is one who resolves" below is the fifth, continuing to exhort people to ascetic practice to disseminate the sūtra. From "Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña, just as all streams, rivers, and waters" below is the sixth, extensively praising the sūtra and directly explaining circulation. Within it there are two sections: first, praising the sūtra; second, from "Therefore, Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña" below, directly explaining circulation. Within each of these two sections there are two stages. Regarding the two for praising the sūtra: first, generally praising this whole sūtra; next, from "Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña, if someone hears" below, specifically praising. Each of these two stages has three subdivisions. Regarding the three in the general praise: first, from "Just as all streams" below, the ten parables, praising by way of comparative assessment; second, from "Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña, this sūtra can save all" below, called praising in terms of its intrinsic nature; third, from "If someone hears this Lotus Sūtra" below, praising by citing its function. From "Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña, if someone hears this Bhaiṣajyarāja" below is the second, the specific praise. Within it there are also three [parts]: first, from "From this" below, citing the present age for praise; second, from "If after the Tathāgata's extinction" below, citing the future age for praise; third, from "Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña, this bodhisattva achieves such" below, the general concluding praise. Regarding the two in directly explaining circulation: first, from "Therefore, Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña" below, entrusting this single chapter for circulation; second, from "Nakṣatrarāja, by means of supernormal powers you should" below, entrusting this whole text and directly explaining circulation. Within this there is the primary [statement] and the explanation.