法華經義記 7.19

7.19

From "At that time, the sixteen bodhisattvas, knowing that the Buddha had entered the room" below to the end of the prose is the second part, which directly clarifies the establishing of ties. Within this there are two: first is the exposition by dharma, and second is the exposition by parable. Within the first, the exposition by dharma, there are three steps: first, directly clarifying the establishing of ties in the past, and proceeding to state thirdly the meeting today and preaching of the Lotus Sūtra; second, clarifying the overarching purport of Śākyamuni Tathāgata's teaching and transforming from beginning to end, after the establishing of ties and before the meeting today. Furthermore, within each of these three steps there are four tiers. Within the first, directly clarifying the establishing of ties in the past, there are four: first, "At that time, the sixteen bodhisattva-śrāmaṇeras, knowing that the Buddha had entered the room and was in tranquil dhyāna-concentration," first clarifies the intention behind the princes being able to repeat the teaching, solely because the Buddha Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū entered the room for eighty-four thousand kalpas, and at that time the Dharma seat could not be left vacant; second, from "each ascended the Dharma seat" below, directly clarifying the repetition of the teaching; third, from "each and every one delivered" below, clarifying the number of listeners who attained awakening during the repetition of the teaching in the past; fourth, clarifying that after eighty-four thousand kalpas had passed, the Buddha Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū emerged from dhyāna-concentration and praised the princes.