妙法蓮華經玄義 6.184

6.184

一、利益來意者，諸佛所為，未甞空過。《釋論》云：「佛入王三昧，前放光度前者，後放光度後者。」譬如網魚，前獲、後獲，見光聞法，皆不唐捐。《淨名》云：「法寶普照而雨甘露。」即身口兩益也。《華嚴》、《思益》並云：放光破慳、破瞋、破癡等。具如彼說。今經四大弟子，領佛開三顯一之益。佛言：如來復有無量功德，汝等說不能盡。譬如大雲起於世間，譬形益也。興雷耀電，譬神通益也。其雨普等，譬說法益也。而諸草木各得生長，即是四種眷屬，皆沾七益。故次明利益妙也。

First, as for the origin and intent of benefit: what the Buddhas do is never in vain. The Dazhidulun states: "When the Buddha entered the king of samādhis, he first emitted light to deliver the former ones, and later emitted light to deliver the latter ones." It is like netting fish, catching some earlier and catching some later; beholding the light and hearing the Dharma are never without purpose. The Vimalakīrtinirdeśa states: "The Dharma treasure shines universally and rains down nectar." This refers to both bodily and verbal benefits. Both the Avataṃsaka and the Viśeṣacintibrahmaparipṛcchā state that emitting light destroys stinginess, destroys anger, destroys delusion, and so forth, fully as explained there. In the present sūtra, the four great disciples comprehended the Buddha's benefit of opening the three and revealing the one. The Buddha said: "The Tathāgata furthermore has immeasurable merit; you cannot finish speaking of it." It is likened to a great cloud arising in the world, which is an analogy for physical benefit. Rousing thunder and flashing lightning are analogies for the benefit of spiritual penetrations. Its universal and equal rain is an analogy for the benefit of preaching the Dharma. And that the various grasses and trees each obtain growth means that the four kinds of retinues all partake in the seven benefits. Therefore, the wondrousness of benefit is explained next.