法華經義記 8.26

8.26

From "All the worlds" onward to the end of the chapter is the second [part], properly and extensively explaining the long duration of the life span; within it there are naturally two, namely, the prose and the verses constitute the two sections. Now within the prose there are naturally two: first is the exposition by dharma, explaining the long duration of marks benefiting beings; second, from "Just as a skilled physician" onward to the end of the prose is the exposition through parable. Now within the exposition by dharma there ought to be four sections, but the text is abbreviated and only has three sections. Now I implicitly draw out the third section, thus making four sections. How is this known? In the parable below and in the verses, they are entirely present; therefore one knows that in the prose there ought to be a third section. As for the names of the four sections: the first explains the Śākyamuni Tathāgata's benefiting beings through supernatural power in past ages, which is precisely what was referred to above in the preface of recounting and exhortation as "the power of the sovereign supernatural powers of the Buddhas"; the second, from "Good sons, the Tathāgata sees all sentient beings delighting in inferior dharmas" onward, explains the Tathāgata's benefiting beings through supernatural power in the present, which is then the above "power of the lion-like exertion of the Buddhas"; the third ought to explain the Tathāgata's benefiting beings through supernatural power in future ages, which is then the above "power of the formidable and mighty strength of the Buddhas"—this is what is absent in the exposition by dharma, but which is now implicitly drawn out as what ought to be present in the parable below and in the verses; the fourth, from "Moreover, good sons, the dharmas of the Buddha Tathāgatas are all like this" onward, encompasses the hidden and the manifest across the three periods of time, explaining that benefiting beings is not false, and putting an end to beings' thoughts of slander. Within these four sections each has three textual [units]. Now within explaining the benefiting of beings through supernatural power in past ages there are three: first, explaining that the responsive body's attainment of buddhahood and life span are long and enduring, but deluded ones say it is recent—this is the meaning of opening the recent; second, from "Since I actually attained buddhahood, it has been immeasurable and boundless" onward, explaining the long and enduring marks of the life span of the origin of the responsive [manifestation]—this is the meaning of revealing the distant; third, from "Ever since then" onward, properly explaining the benefiting of beings through supernatural power in past ages. Within these three sections the points of meaning increase by one: the first has one, the second has two, and the third has three. Now saying, "All the worlds think that the present Śākya came forth from the palace of the Śākyas" onward is the first, explaining that the attainment of buddhahood was truly long ago, but deluded ones say it is recent; this first section is single and does not unfold.