法華經義記 1.17

1.17

If we broadly discuss the differences among the titles of various sūtras, what is seen can be briefly stated as having five types. What are they? First, sūtras titled by dharma alone; second, sūtras titled by person alone; third, sūtras titled by both person and dharma; fourth, sūtras titled by metaphor alone; fifth, sūtras presenting both dharma and metaphor. Those titled by dharma alone are like the *Mahāparinirvāṇa [Sūtra]*, which is the dharma of the complete, ultimate Buddha-fruition; hence we know that it names the sūtra by the fruition-dharma alone. Sūtras titled by person are the *Caturmahārāja Sūtra* and the *Jyotika Sūtra*. Those retaining both person and dharma are the *Vimalakīrti* and *Śrīmālā Sūtras*. Those titled by metaphor alone are the *Axe-Handle Parable Sūtra* mentioned in the *Tattvasiddhi*. Those presenting both dharma and metaphor are like this *Lotus Sūtra*: above, it sets forth 'sublime dharma', and below, it sets forth 'lotus' as a metaphor; through this, it can doubly reveal the meaning of cause and fruition. Now, the varieties born of water and land are mixed and boundless; here, specifically selecting the water-born lotus to illustrate cause and fruition is because if this flower does not exist, that is all, but if it exists, the flower and the fruit are necessarily simultaneous. By using this meaning of simultaneity, it illustrates this sūtra's dual exposition of cause and fruition.