妙法蓮華經玄義 1.58

1.58

引諸譬喻，明教相最大。例知用、宗、體、名，亦大如海，境智乃至利益，亦大如海。教相如山，在四味教上，用、宗、體、名、境、智、利益，亦復如是。教相虧盈圓滿，如月；用、宗、體、名、境、智、利益，亦復如是。教破化城，用、宗、體、名、境、智、利益，亦復如是。教相自在，餘亦如是。教相王中王，餘亦如是。非但引文證教，餘義亦成。

Adducing these various metaphors clarifies that the characteristics of the teaching are the greatest. By analogy one knows that function, central purport, substance, and title are also vast as the ocean; and object, wisdom, down to benefit are also vast as the ocean. The characteristics of the teaching are like a mountain, standing above the teachings of the four flavors; function, central purport, substance, title, object, wisdom, and benefit are also like this. The characteristics of the teaching wax, wane, and become full like the moon; function, central purport, substance, title, object, wisdom, and benefit are also like this. The teaching destroys the conjured city; function, central purport, substance, title, object, wisdom, and benefit are also like this. The characteristics of the teaching are sovereign; the rest are also like this. The characteristics of the teaching are a king among kings; the rest are also like this. Not only are textual passages adduced to prove the teaching, but the other meanings are also established.