妙法蓮華經玄義 7.230

7.230

喻迹者：一、華生必有於蓮，為蓮而華，蓮不可見，此譬約實明權、意在於實，無能知者。文云：「我意難可測，無能發問者。」又云：「隨宜所說，意趣難解。」二、華開故蓮現，而須華養蓮，譬權中有實，而不能知。今開權顯實，意須於權，廣識恒沙佛法者，秖為成實，使深識佛知見耳。三、華落蓮成，即喻廢三顯一，唯一佛乘直至道場。菩薩有行，見不了了，但如華開；諸佛以不行故，見則了了，譬如華落蓮成。此三譬迹門，從初方便，引入大乘，終竟圓滿也。

Illustrating the traces: 1. Where a flower grows there must be a lotus fruit; flowering for the sake of the fruit, the fruit is not yet visible. This illustrates that with reference to the real the provisional is clarified, yet the intent lies in the real, which no one can know. The text says: 'My intent is difficult to fathom; none can raise a question.' It also says: 'What is preached according to suitability has an intent that is difficult to understand.' 2. When the flower opens the fruit appears, yet it needs the flower to nourish the fruit. This illustrates that within the provisional there is the real, yet it cannot be known. Now, opening the provisional and revealing the real requires the provisional; knowing extensively the Buddha-dharmas numerous as the sands of the Ganges is solely to accomplish the real, causing one to deeply know the Buddha's knowledge and vision. 3. When the petals fall the fruit is formed. This illustrates abolishing the three and revealing the one, so that the sole Buddha-yāna leads directly to the bodhimaṇḍa. The bodhisattva has practice, but their vision is not yet fully clear, like the flower opening; because the Buddhas are beyond practice, their vision is completely clear, like the petals falling and the fruit forming. These three metaphors illustrate the trace gate, from the initial skilful means, leading into the Great Vehicle, through to final consummation.