法華經義記 8.74

8.74

From "At that time the Buddha addressed" below is the second section of the chapter, the Tathāgata's reply. Now, within this reply, there are six sections: first, explaining the root of the matter; second, from "At that time that buddha" below, explaining that a past buddha preached the Lotus Sūtra for this bodhisattva; third, from "Sarvasattvapriyadarśana" below, directly explaining the past events of ascetic practice in circulating this sūtra; fourth, from "The Buddha addressed Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña" below, which synthesises the ancient and the present; fifth, from "Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña, if there is one who resolves" below, exhorting the dissemination of the sūtra; sixth, from "Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña, just as" below, extensively praising the sūtra and directly explaining circulation. From "At that time the Buddha addressed Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña" downwards for eleven lines or more is the first, explaining the root of the matter. From "At that time that buddha" below is the second in the Buddha's reply, explaining that in the past a buddha preached the Lotus Sūtra for this bodhisattva. From "This Sarvasattva-" below is the third section in the Buddha's reply, directly explaining the past events. Now within this there are four sections: first, from "Bodhisattva Sarvasattvapriyadarśana" below, explaining hearing the sūtra and practising; second, from "having completed twelve thousand years, he attained the samādhi of manifesting all physical bodies" below, explaining the attainment of the present fruition; third, from "he then had this thought" below, explaining recognising kindness and thinking of repaying kindness; fourth, from "he immediately entered this samādhi" below, directly explaining repaying kindness through offerings. Within this fourth there are two [parts]: first, explaining the offering in the present body, and second, the offering in a subsequent body. As for the offering in the present body, it is divided into two: first, from "he immediately entered this samādhi" below, explaining material offerings; second, from "arising from the samādhi, he thought to himself" below, directly explaining the offering of burning his body. Now within explaining the offering of burning his body, there are five stages: first, explaining the thought of wishing to burn his body; second, from "he then consumed various perfumes" below, explaining the consumption of perfumes; third, from "having completed one thousand two hundred years" below, directly explaining the burning of his body; fourth, from "the buddhas therein" below, the praise by the buddhas; fifth, from "his body blazed with fire" below, explaining the duration of time that elapsed. From "Sarvasattvapriyadarśana" below is the second, explaining the offering in a subsequent body. Within it there are two [parts]: first, explaining the causal conditions of the offering; second, from "At that time Sarvasattvapriyadarśana" below, directly engaging in ascetic practice to disseminate the sūtra. Now within the causal conditions, there are nine stages: first, explaining the manifestation of rebirth in a royal family; second, from "he then for his father the king" below, explaining to the king the original causes and conditions; third, from "Great King, I should now return to make offerings to this buddha" below, explaining that he told the king of his wish to make offerings to the Buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī; fourth, from "having spoken" below, explaining ascending into the air and going; fifth, from "arriving at the buddha's place" below, explaining paying homage upon reaching the buddha's place; sixth, from "At that time Sarva-" below, explaining his addressing the buddha. How could the buddha still be present? This interpretation is not adopted now; it is simply his rejoicing to himself, saying that he still arrived while the World-Honoured One was in the world. Seventh, explaining that the Buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī replied, saying "the time of nirvāṇa has arrived"; eighth, explaining that from "moreover commanded" below, the Buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī entrusted the Dharma to this bodhisattva; ninth, from "Such was Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsa-" below, explaining that the Buddha Candrasūryavimalaprabhāsaśrī entered nirvāṇa. The explanation of the causal conditions is finished. From "At that time Sarva-" below is the second, directly explaining using ascetic practice in the subsequent body to disseminate the sūtra. Now within this there are four sections: first, explaining the arising of longing and yearning upon seeing the Buddha's extinction; second, explaining the offering of burning the body using sandalwood from this shore of the sea; third, after the fire was extinguished, explaining the offering to the relics; fourth, from "At that time Sarva-" below, explaining still offering his arms. Within this fourth section there are seven stages: first, from "From this" below, telling the great assembly that he wishes to burn his arms; second, from "having spoken these words" below, directly explaining the burning of his arms; third, from "causing countless seekers of the śrāvaka [vehicle]" below, explaining that the contemporary assembly attained benefit; fourth, from "At that time the bodhisattvas" below, the sorrow and distress of the contemporary assembly; fifth, from "At that time Sarvasattvapriyadarśana" below, explaining the making of the vow; sixth, from "having made this vow" below, explaining the arms being restored to their original state; seventh, from "At that time", explaining the signs of being moved. From "The Buddha addressed Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña: 'What do you think?'" below, in the Buddha's reply of six sections, this is the fourth section, synthesising the ancient and the present. From "Nakṣatrarāja, if there is one who resolves" below is the fifth, continuing to exhort people to ascetic practice to disseminate the sūtra. From "Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña, just as all streams, rivers, and waters" below is the sixth, extensively praising the sūtra and directly explaining circulation. Within it there are two sections: first, praising the sūtra; second, from "Therefore, Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña" below, directly explaining circulation. Within each of these two sections there are two stages. Regarding the two for praising the sūtra: first, generally praising this whole sūtra; next, from "Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña, if someone hears" below, specifically praising. Each of these two stages has three subdivisions. Regarding the three in the general praise: first, from "Just as all streams" below, the ten parables, praising by way of comparative assessment; second, from "Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña, this sūtra can save all" below, called praising in terms of its intrinsic nature; third, from "If someone hears this Lotus Sūtra" below, praising by citing its function. From "Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña, if someone hears this Bhaiṣajyarāja" below is the second, the specific praise. Within it there are also three [parts]: first, from "From this" below, citing the present age for praise; second, from "If after the Tathāgata's extinction" below, citing the future age for praise; third, from "Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña, this bodhisattva achieves such" below, the general concluding praise. Regarding the two in directly explaining circulation: first, from "Therefore, Nakṣatrarājasankusumitābhijña" below, entrusting this single chapter for circulation; second, from "Nakṣatrarāja, by means of supernormal powers you should" below, entrusting this whole text and directly explaining circulation. Within this there is the primary [statement] and the explanation.