法華經義記 3.7

3.7

From "This dharma cannot be demonstrated" onward, there are eleven verses subsequently versifying the second [section] above, which directly transcends speech. Above, it said: "Stop, Śāriputra! It is not necessary to speak further." Now, within these eleven verses, only a half-verse directly versifies the praise transcending speech above; the remaining ten and a half verses, in terms of meaning, emerge to reveal the reason why speech is transcended, directly clarifying that it is because the śrāvakas do not know it and the bodhisattvas do not know it. Now this half-verse has two points: "This dharma cannot be demonstrated" directly versifies the "Stop, Śāriputra!" above; "The characteristics of words and speech are extinguished and quiescent" versifies the clause "It is not necessary to speak further" above. From "Of all the other kinds of living beings, / there is none that can understand" onward, the ten and a half verses are the second [part], which emerges in terms of meaning. Now within these ten and a half verses, there are of themselves three sections: first, this present half-verse generally clarifies the assembly that does not know; second, a half-verse sets aside those who do know; third, nine and a half verses individually identify the assemblies that do not know. As for the second, setting aside those who do know, it directly states that except for those among the bodhisattva assembly who possess resolute faith-power, they of themselves can come to know it; yet this is not knowing by direct seeing, but is still knowing by faith; this thereby leads the śrāvakas and others toward the Great Vehicle, causing them to change their narrow and inferior minds and establish the great resolve of a bodhisattva. "The assemblies of the disciples of the Buddhas": from here onward, there are nine and a half verses, which are the third [section], individually identifying those who do not know. There are in all three kinds of people who do not know these two knowledges: first, four verses clarify that the śrāvakas do not know; second, two verses clarify that pratyekabuddhas do not know, from "Pratyekabuddhas of sharp faculties" downward; third, three and a half verses clarify that bodhisattvas do not know, from "Newly resolved bodhisattvas" downward. Within the first, clarifying that śrāvakas do not know, there are again three passages: the first one and a half verses directly clarify that śrāvakas do not know; the next verse clarifies by hypothesis that they do not know; the next one and a half verses resolve doubt. The doubt states: "Even granted that all were like Śāriputra, that is only one kind of spiritual understanding and of no benefit to the matter." Now the explanation states: even granted that they were like the other disciples, each possessing their own understanding, they would still not be able to know. Within the third, clarifying that bodhisattvas do not know, there are two parts: the first two and a half verses clarify that ordinary-person bodhisattvas do not know; the next verse clarifies that bodhisattvas from the first stage up to the sixth stage do not know; this is discussed here in terms of the doctrinal teachings. "He further addressed Śāriputra: The untainted and inconceivable": within this, there are one and a half verses that subsequently versify the first [section] in the transcendence of speech, which identifies the dharma on account of which speech is transcended. Above it said that the Tathāgata can make various distinctions, first identifying the expedient knowledge; here this is omitted and not versified. It only versifies the clause identifying the real knowledge above: "To state the essential, the Buddhas have fully accomplished all immeasurable, boundless, and unprecedented dharmas." However, within these one and a half verses, the first verse directly versifies [that], and the lower half-verse adduces all Buddhas as confirmation. This was explained at Shanshe Temple.