妙法蓮華經玄義 7.227

7.227

四、正釋者，若依《大集》，行法因果為蓮華，菩薩處上即是因華，禮佛蓮華即是果華。若依《法華論》，以依報國土為蓮華，復由菩薩修蓮華行，報得蓮華國土。當知依正因果悉是蓮華之法，何須譬顯？為鈍根人不解法性蓮華故，舉世華為譬，亦應何妨！

Fourth, directly explaining: If relying on the *Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra*, the causes and effects of the dharmas of practice are the lotus flower: the bodhisattva abiding atop it is the causal flower, and paying homage to the Buddha-lotus is the fruitional flower. If relying on the *Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-upadeśa*, the circumstantial realm of retribution is the lotus flower; and furthermore, because the bodhisattva cultivates lotus-practices, as retribution they attain the lotus realm. One should know that circumstantial and direct [retributions], causes and effects, are all dharmas of the lotus flower—why would a metaphor be needed to reveal them? For the sake of people of dull faculties who do not understand the lotus flower of Dharma-nature, what harm could there be in presenting worldly flowers as a metaphor!