法華經義記 2.18

2.18

Now, taking the prose section, it is divided broadly into four parts. First, ending at "expound the meaning of the great Dharma", he answers Maitreya with preliminary reflection and conjecture. Second, from "Good men, in the past I have seen this auspicious sign" to "hence he manifests this auspicious sign", he briefly cites the past to verify the present, answering briefly with somewhat greater clarity. Third, from "Good men, just as in the past, immeasurable and boundless" onwards, he sets forth at length the matters he has seen before, citing the past to verify the present, and because the events are identical, answers Maitreya at length. Fourth, from "Now seeing this auspicious sign, it is no different from the original" to the end of the prose section, he concludes the answer clearly. The reason there is this fourfold explanation of dharma is that, if spoken of in terms of reality, Mañjuśrī was in the distant past all the Buddhas, the Tathāgata Dragon Species; yet now, having assumed the trace of being a disciple of Śākya[muni], how could he make distinctions and determinations with blatant certainty? He must proceed through gradual steps: first engaging in preliminary reflection and conjecture. Although he engages in preliminary reflection and conjecture, this reflection and conjecture is not unfounded; therefore, in the second part, he says, "In the past I have seen this matter." However, this matter is not yet sufficient to serve as an instruction [for all]; therefore, in the third part, he sets forth at length the matters he has seen before. Since the auspicious signs of the past are identical in circumstance with the auspicious signs of today, and since just after the Buddha of the past manifested the auspicious signs he emerged from meditative absorption and then preached the Lotus Sūtra, because these circumstances are identical, he can verify and know that today the Tathāgata must certainly preach the Lotus Sūtra. The extensive citation being completed, the assembly of the time may place their trust in it; hence there is the fourth part, clearly concluding the answer.