法華經義記 2.73

2.73

In this praise of the beyond-words there are three parts: first, setting forth the dharmas that are beyond words, which are the two knowledges; second, directly elucidating the praise of the beyond-words; third, from 'For what reason' onward, explaining the intended meaning of why they are beyond words. Now, the first sets forth the expedient knowledge first and the real knowledge later. The four lines from 'Śāriputra, the Tathāgata can make various distinctions' downward, among the spheres of the three threes, exclusively clarify what the expedient knowledge performs, clarifying that the Tathāgata can preach the causes and conditions of the śrāvaka teaching, the causes and conditions of the pratyekabuddha teaching, and the causes and conditions of the bodhisattva teaching; hence it says 'make various distinctions.' As for 'skilfully expounding all dharmas': this clarifies that the Tathāgata's skilful knowledge skilfully expounds the Dharma of the One Vehicle, taking it and making it the dharmas of the three vehicles; hence the text of the sūtra below says: 'within the One Buddha Vehicle, he makes distinctions and preaches three'; hence it says 'skilfully expounds.' Merely expounding this three-vehicle teaching accords with the capacity of beings in the past; hence 'his words are gentle and delight the minds of the multitude.'