法華經義記 7.15

7.15

From "At that time, the Tathāgata Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū accepted the requests of the Brahmā heavenly kings of the ten directions" below is the second, clarifying the proximate reasons for establishing ties in the past. Within this there are also four stages: first, it clarifies that the Buddha Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū accepted the requests of the Brahmās to turn the wheel of the Dharma of the two vehicles; second, it clarifies that the sixteen princes at that time requested the Buddha to preach the Lotus Sūtra; third, it clarifies that the Buddha Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū accepted the princes' request and preached the Lotus Sūtra; fourth, it clarifies that after preaching the Lotus Sūtra, the Buddha Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū then entered dhyāna-concentration, leaving his seat to provide the occasion for the repetition of the teaching—for had he not entered dhyāna-concentration, how could there be a repetition of the teaching? Furthermore, within each of these four stages there are three tiers. In the first, accepting the requests of the Brahmās of the ten directions to preach the wheel of the Dharma of the two vehicles, there are three tiers: first, accepting the request initially; second, from "immediately turned three times" below, listing the characteristics of the wheel of the Dharma of the two vehicles; third, from "When the Buddha preached this Dharma in the midst of the great assembly of devas and humans" below, the assembly at that time showing signs of receptive awakening. Regarding the second, listing the wheel of the Dharma of the two vehicles, first the Four Truths are set forth, and later the twelve links of dependent origination are set forth; these two wheels of the Dharma each have two parts. Setting forth the Four Truths has two parts: first, generally clarifying the three turnings and twelve aspects, namely instruction, exhortation, and realization; second, from "namely, this is suffering" below, setting forth the Four Truths individually. Setting forth the twelve links of dependent origination has two parts: first, from "and extensively preached the twelve links of dependent origination" below, clarifying the forward sequence; second, from "because ignorance ceases" below, clarifying the reverse sequence.