法華經義記 6.9

6.9

"Spoke to the laborers" onward is the second, the actual instruction to work. Within this actual instruction to work there are four steps: first, exhorting them to work diligently; second, explaining an increase in your wage; third, praising the implements of work; fourth, comforting the laborers. This assimilates the four steps of preaching the three vehicles above. "Spoke to the laborers: 'You must work diligently'" is the first, but the phrasing is not in sequential order, first assimilating the third, speaking to the laborers; "You must work diligently" is the first, assimilating the third [step] in the burning house of exhorting the sons to go and take the three carts, "You ought to come out quickly", and the application of the parable also says the phrase, "You need only diligently cultivate vigor". "Later again telling him" onward is the second: not only directly exhorting to work, but also increasing the wage given to you; this assimilates the second [step] above, showing the place of the three carts; above it said, "Such various goat carts, deer carts, and ox carts are now outside the gate"; now here, "increasing your wage" refers to what was formerly only the retribution of humans and devas, whereas now the increased wage is solely the knowledge of exhaustion and knowledge of non-arising. "All that is needed, down to old and decrepit servants, if you need them, I will provide" is the third step, praising the implements of work; this assimilates the first [step] in the parable, praising the three carts. Above it said, "Such various rare and hard-to-obtain [carts]", and the application of the parable said, "You should know that these teachings of the three vehicles are all praised by the sages". Precepts can contain things like an earthen vessel; rice is like wisdom; flour is like meditative concentration. As for salt and vinegar, using the sour taste of suffering and the salty taste of impermanence, one undertakes the contemplative wisdom of the practices of impermanence, suffering, emptiness, and non-self; therefore it says "items such as salt and vinegar". "Old and decrepit servants": originally used to substitute for the movement of hands and feet, this explains that the arhat is fully equipped with the six supernormal powers to conceal, reveal, and roam the realms; these six supernormal powers do not equal the supernatural power of the Tathāgata, and so are called old and decrepit. These are naturally the supernormal powers of an arhat, so why does it say the Buddha provides them? Commentators say: "It means that when the Buddha preaches to sentient beings that attaining the fruition of an arhat surely attains these six supernormal powers, since it derives from the Buddha's preaching, it is therefore said that he provides them." "Rest your mind at ease" down to the end of "whereas you are young and vigorous" is the fourth step, comforting the laborer; this assimilates the fourth [step] in the parable above, the guarantee that it is not false; above it said, "According to your wishes, all will be given to you", and the application of the parable said, "I now guarantee this matter to you; it will never be in vain". Having transformed those sentient beings for a long time, he therefore says "I am old in years". Sentient beings' good roots are inferior and weak, so he says "whereas you are young and vigorous".