法華經義記 7.36

7.36

From "Just like a perilous, evil road" below, nineteen lines versify the exposition by parable. In the prose above there were originally three sections; here there are also three: first, eleven and a half lines versify the unfolding of the parable; next, from "I too am just like this" below, six and a half lines versify the application of the parable; next, from "The leader of the Buddhas" below, one line versifies matching the inner [meaning] to the outer parable and concluding. In the unfolding of the parable above there were five [points]; here the eleven and a half lines are also divided into five: the first three lines versify the first; one line of "The multitudes are all weary" versifies the second; next, from "The guide has this thought" below, five lines versify the third; next, one line of "The guide, knowing they have rested" versifies the fourth; next, from "He gathers the multitude and tells them" below, two lines and one phrase versify the fifth. The first parable has four meanings: here, although they are fully versified, the four meanings are not in sequential order; the first line versifies the second, the fearful place; the next half[-line] versifies the third, if there is a large multitude; the next half-line traces back to versify the first, the five hundred yojanas; the next line then versifies the fourth, the guide. This one line of "The multitudes are all weary" versifies the parable of remissness and retreat. Originally it had two: first, directly clarifying the retreat; second, explaining the intention to retreat. Here there are also two: the first phrase versifies the first; the next three phrases versify the second. From "The guide has this thought" below, five lines versify the parable of conjuring the city: above there were four; here the first is not versified. The first line continues to versify the second; the next three lines versify the third; the next line versifies the fourth. In the third section above there were originally two: first, contemplating the creation of the conjured city; second, directly conjuring the city. Here, among the three lines, two lines versify the first, and the next line versifies the second. This one phrase of "The guide, knowing they have rested" versifies the fourth parable; from "He gathers the multitude and tells them" below, two lines and one phrase versify the fifth parable. From "I too am just like this" below, six and a half lines versify the application of the parable: the first half-line versifies the application to the first; the next line versifies the application to the second; the next line versifies the application to the third; the next half-line versifies the application to the fourth; the next three and a half lines versify the application to the fifth parable. This one line from "The leader of the Buddhas" below is the third, versifying the matching application and conclusion: herein it adduces the inner [meaning] to match, apply, and conclude; the first phrase directly matches and applies to the first, the guide; the next phrase directly matches and applies to the conjured city; the next phrase directly matches and applies to taking rest; the next phrase directly matches and applies to reaching the jewel place. Only remissness and retreat is not matched.