法華經義記 7.26

7.26

From "The multitude of people led" onwards is the second parable, that of slackening and retreating. This illustrates, within the aforementioned third [item] of their encountering one another today—namely, alternating emergence—the tentative adaptation of the Great Vehicle where there was no capacity for the Great Vehicle. If one speaks of "midway," then in the midst of the five hundred [yojanas], one should rightly sever half the afflictions of [the heaven of] neither-thought-[nor-non-thought], yet in reality there is no such thing. Now, discussing retreat, there are two kinds: first, having already traversed half the path, then returning in retreat; second, after the commitment has already been settled, only then producing a mind of regret. The present discussion, based on the latter, explains that at that time the assembly, having resolved to transcend the five hundred yojanas and cross over the two kinds of birth-and-death, still lost their correct understanding and had no mind to seek Buddhahood; this is the meaning of retreating. All of what follows is phrased in terms of principle. Within this, there are two [parts]: the first sentence properly clarifies retreat; the second, from "and said to the guide" onwards, explains the retreat due to three kinds of causes and conditions: first, extreme exhaustion; second, fear; and third, the distance of the road. From "The guide, possessing many skilful means" onwards is the third parable, that of conjuring the illusory city. This illustrates the earlier [passage], "Monks, you should know that the Tathāgata's skilful means penetrate deeply into the nature of sentient beings," converting and saving sentient beings by means of the three vehicles. In the original parable above there were four [points], and here it also illustrates the four above: first, it clarifies that the guide uses the illusory city for tentative adaptation; second, it clarifies that the guide sees that the people at that time have the inclination to delight in the illusory city; third, he conjures the illusory city for them; fourth, it clarifies that the extremely exhausted multitude enters the illusory city. When it says here that the guide possessed many skilful means, this is the meaning of the first [point] above: tentative adaptation using the three vehicles. From "and had this thought: 'These [people] are to be pitied'" onwards is the second [point], seeing that they have the intention to delight in the illusory city, which is the meaning of seeing the capacity for the Small Vehicle above. "Why should they abandon the great, precious jewel?" This means they lacked the capacity for the Great [Vehicle] and wished to retreat, which signifies having the capacity for the Small Vehicle.