法華經義記 3.55

3.55

From "Constantly thinking of past Buddhas" onwards, there are eleven verses which form the fourth [section]. Here this is designated as the Buddha's successful conversion of sentient beings by means of the three vehicles. This serves as the basis for the fourth parable below in the burning house, where the elder rescues the sons with the three carts; it corresponds to the passage below stating, "At that time the elder then had this thought: 'This house has already been consumed by a great fire…'" Within this text there are naturally two [parts]: first, eleven verses directly explaining that sentient beings were successfully converted using the three vehicles; second, one verse starting from "Since distant kalpas past" which resolves the doubts of beings. Within the preceding ten verses there are naturally four sections: first, six and a half verses explaining the Buddha's tentative adaptation using the three vehicles; second, one verse [explaining] seeing the capacity of the persons of the three vehicles; third, one and a half verses [explaining] preaching the teaching of the three vehicles for them; fourth, one verse [explaining] the practice and acceptance by the persons of the three vehicles. Now, in saying "Constantly thinking of past Buddhas", the six and a half verses below are the first [section] on tentative adaptation by disclosing the three vehicles, which naturally has three parts: first, one verse on "Constantly thinking of the power of skilful means practised by past Buddhas" explains seeking the teaching and tentative adaptation—the upper half being the seeking of the teaching, and the lower half directly explaining the tentative adaptation. Second, the four and a half verses below "When he made this reflection, the Buddhas of the ten directions all manifested" explain the praise and commendation of the Buddhas. Third, the one verse below "Śāriputra, you should know" explains Śākya taking refuge in the Buddhas. The one verse "Again having this thought: 'I have appeared in a turbid and evil world, as explained by the Buddhas'" is the second [section], seeing that there is capacity for the three vehicles, capable of receiving the teaching of the three vehicles. The one and a half verses below "Having reflected on this matter, I immediately proceeded to Vārāṇasī" are the third [section], explaining that the Buddha immediately preached the teaching of the three vehicles for them, precisely at the time when he went to the Deer Park. "The mark of quiescence and cessation of all phenomena" explains that the myriad wholesome phenomena are quiescent and ceased, having no characteristics of the three vehicles that can be spoken of; it is solely through skilful means that the three vehicles are said to exist. The one verse below "This is called turning the wheel of Dharma, whereupon there is the sound of nirvāṇa" is the fourth [section]: the practice and acceptance by the persons of the three vehicles. It is solely through skilful means that the three vehicles are spoken of, so one can only say that there is the 'sound of nirvāṇa', but there is no actual substance of true nirvāṇa. Five people attained the Path and eighty thousand devas attained holiness; therefore the Vimalakīrti Sūtra states that the Three Jewels thereupon appeared in the world. The one verse below "Since distant kalpas past" is the second [part], resolving doubts. The objection asks: The Śākyamuni Tathāgata possesses the three insights which illuminate all completely; he should naturally understand the teachings of the three vehicles, so how could he only now come to learn the Dharma of the three vehicles from the Buddhas? The resolution states: Since distant kalpas past, he has praised and shown the Dharma of nirvāṇa; clearly, he already understood the teachings of the three vehicles, but only wished to conform with the Buddhas. Another explanation states: The assembly at that time mutually gave rise to doubt, asking, if in principle these three vehicles do not exist, why did the Buddha wish to fully preach these three vehicles for people? Therefore the second [part] has one verse resolving the doubt. "Since distant kalpas past, praising and showing the Dharma of nirvāṇa" means that he has constantly wished to show the Dharma of cause and effect of the One Vehicle, but there were no sentient beings of the Great Vehicle, and they were incapable of receiving it. Traditional transmission states: this secretly reveals the meaning of the [Tathāgata's] life span; this is the former explanation.