法華經義記 6.28

6.28

"The elder, through a window" and the five and a half verses below versify the fifth parable above, of teaching him to be a laborer. In the parable above there were originally three sections: first, the circumstances of teaching him to work; second, properly teaching him to work; third, the laborer taking up the work and suiting the elder's intention. The first two verses versify the circumstances of teaching him to work, the next two and a half verses versify properly teaching him to work, and the remaining final verse versifies the laborer suiting the elder's intention. In the circumstances of teaching him to work above there were originally three sections: first, explaining that the elder sees his son; second, relinquishing the attire of a noble person; third, putting on the clothes of a lowly person. Now these two verses only versify the first and third; they do not versify the second, relinquishing the attire of a noble person, which is the meaning of relinquishing the Dharma-body. The first verse versifies the first, seeing the son; the latter verse versifies the third, putting on the clothes of a lowly person. But in the father seeing the son above there were originally another three steps; now the first is not versified, only two steps are. The first line above, "Furthermore, on another day," explains the time of seeing the son; it is not versified now. The second says, "through the window," explaining the place of seeing the son; now the first line properly versifies this second step; the three lines below versify the third step, properly seeing the son. This single verse, "Thereupon the elder put on ragged, soiled clothes," versifies the third above, receiving the clothes of a lowly person. In receiving the clothes of a lowly person above there were naturally three steps; now it does not versify the second, only two steps. The upper half-verse versifies the first above, explaining the absence of the auspicious marks; the lower half-verse versifies the third above, the absence of wisdom. From "Skilfully approaching" below, there are two and a half verses versifying the second above, properly teaching him to work. In properly teaching him to work above there were originally four sections; now they are fully versified: half a verse versifies the first, one line versifies the second, one verse and one line versify the third, and half a verse versifies the fourth. "Skilfully approaching, he told him to work diligently": now this initial half-verse precisely versifies the first step, understanding the third [in the prior parable], exhorting him to take the three carts, which is exhorting to diligence; above it said, "He told all the laborers: 'Work diligently!'" This single line, "Since your wage has been increased," is precisely the versification of the second, understanding the second [in the prior parable], showing the place of the three carts; above it said, "Afterward he again told him: 'Come, man! Work here constantly; do not go elsewhere.'" This one verse and one line, "Together with oil for anointing the feet," versify the third above, praising the tools for work, understanding the first [in the prior parable], praising the three carts; above it said, "Whatever you need—earthenware jars, vessels, rice, and flour." Now oil for anointing the feet is used to substitute for the old, decrepit messenger above; the old, decrepit messenger is simply supernatural power; now substituting with oil for anointing the feet is because in foreign lands the use of oil for anointing the feet enables one to walk on water as on land. Drink is used to substitute for the flour above; food is used to substitute for the rice above; therefore the treatise text says that there are two kinds of solid food: first, coarse; second, fine—cooked rice and the like are called coarse, drink and the like are called fine. Straw mats are used to substitute for the earthenware vessels for holding things above, explaining that they may be like straw mats. This half verse, "Furthermore, with gentle words [he treated him] as if he were his own son," versifies the fourth above, understanding the fourth above, that it is definitely given without deceit; above it said, "Rest your mind at ease; I am like your father," which is precisely the meaning of guaranteeing to give it without deceit. This single verse, "The elder had wisdom and gradually caused him to enter and exit," is the third, which precisely versifies the third above, the laborer suiting the elder's intention. In suiting [his intention] above there were originally four sections, which correspond to understanding the four sections in the three vehicles' receiving and practicing; now it only versifies the third section, and none of the others are versified. First, "When you constantly work, you are free of the five kinds of faults," which is the parable understanding the meaning of "their minds were each courageous and keen"; this is not versified now. Second, "From now on you are like my own begotten son," understanding the internal ordinary beings who resemble sages; this is also not versified now; only the third is versified. At that time, though the poor son rejoiced at this encounter, he still regarded himself as a lowly hired laborer; because of this, for twenty years he was constantly made to remove excrement. Seeing the truth and reflecting upon it to cultivate the path of practice is therefore called "twenty years." It does not versify the fourth, "After this had passed, their minds mutually trusted each other," attaining the fruition of an arhat.