法華經義記 7.14

7.14

From "At that time, the eastern direction" below is the fourth, clarifying that the Brahmās of the ten directions requested the Buddha to turn the wheel of the Dharma. Within this there are also three: first, it clarifies that the Brahmās of the two directions, east and southeast, requested the turning of the wheel of the Dharma of the Small Vehicle; second, from the south down to the nadir, the Brahmās of the seven directions requested the Buddha to turn the wheel of the Dharma of the Great Vehicle; third, it clarifies that the Brahmās of the one zenith direction jointly requested the turning of the wheel of the Dharma of both the Great and Small Vehicles. Regarding the first, clarifying the requests by the Brahmās of the east and southeast, there are two: first, it clarifies the request by the Brahmās of the east; second, the request by the Brahmās of the southeast. However, within the Brahmās of one direction, there are altogether seven points: first, it clarifies the appearance of that Buddha's light shining and their astonishment; second, it clarifies their joint discussion on the cause of this light; third, it clarifies that among the assembly of Brahmās there was an intelligent one who made a general judgment on the meaning of the light; fourth, it clarifies that the Brahmās and others followed the light and arrived at the Buddha's place; fifth, it clarifies that having reached the Buddha's place, the Brahmās paid reverence with the three karmas; sixth, it directly clarifies the request for the Buddha to turn the wheel of the Dharma; seventh, it clarifies that the Buddha Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū silently consented. The seven points for the Brahmās of the southeast are also like this. From "Moreover, monks, the south" below is the second, clarifying that the Brahmās of the seven directions requested the turning of the wheel of the Dharma of the Great Vehicle. This also has two parts: first, it fully clarifies the seven points for the Brahmās of the south; second, from the southwest onward, it encompasses the six directions in general, aligning them as identical to the south. From "At that time, the zenith" below is the third, clarifying that the Brahmās of the zenith jointly requested the turning of the wheel of the Dharma of both the Great and Small Vehicles. It has only six points, lacking the seventh, the Tathāgata's silent consent. Why? Because at that time the request had already been concluded, and the Buddha accepted the request and preached the Dharma; therefore there was no silent consent. However, in the two verses of the sixth point requesting the preaching of the Dharma, the former verse requests the Small Vehicle, and the latter verse requests the wheel of the Dharma of the Great Vehicle. Each among these four stages has three tiers, which together form the remote reasons for establishing ties.