妙法蓮華經玄義 7.215

7.215

定是法蓮華，法蓮華難解，故草華為喻。利根即名解理，不假譬喻，但作法華之解。中、下未悟，須譬乃知，以易解之蓮華，喻難解之蓮華。故有三周說法，逗上、中、下根。約上根是法名，約中、下是譬名；三根合論，雙標法譬。如此解者，與誰為諍耶！今且依法譬為釋也。

It is definitively the Dharma-lotus. Because the Dharma-lotus is difficult to understand, the plant flower is used as a metaphor. Those of sharp capacities immediately understand the principle upon hearing the name, without needing metaphors, and simply understand it as the Dharma-lotus. Those of intermediate and lower capacities have not yet awakened and must have a metaphor before they understand; thus the easily understood lotus flower is used to illustrate the difficult-to-understand lotus flower. Therefore, there are three cycles of preaching the Dharma, catering to the upper, intermediate, and lower capacities. In terms of the upper capacity, it is a doctrinal name; in terms of the intermediate and lower capacities, it is a metaphorical name. Considering the three capacities together, both doctrine and metaphor are indicated. With such an understanding, with whom could there be any dispute? For now, we explain it in terms of doctrine and metaphor.