妙法蓮華經玄義 7.250

7.250

蓮子雖小，備有根、莖、華、葉，譬行妙，莖即慈悲，葉即智慧，鬚即三昧，開敷即解脫。又葉以譬三慈者，覆水青葉，譬眾生緣慈；覆水黃葉，譬法緣慈；倚葉譬無緣慈。倚荷若出，蓮生不久，無緣慈成，得記不久。又根、華、子、葉，利益人、蜂即檀，香氣即尸，生泥不辱即忍，增長即精進，柔濕即禪，不污即慧，齊此譬行妙也。

Though the lotus seed is small, it completely possesses root, stem, flower, and leaf, which illustrates the wondrousness of practice. The stem is compassion; the leaves are wisdom; the stamens are samādhi; the blossom opening is liberation. Furthermore, using the leaves to illustrate the three kinds of compassion: the green leaves covering the water illustrate compassion conditioned on sentient beings; the yellow leaves covering the water illustrate compassion conditioned on dharmas; the upright leaves illustrate compassion without conditions. If the upright leaf emerges, the lotus will soon appear; when compassion without conditions is perfected, receiving the prediction (vyākaraṇa) will not be long. Moreover, the root, flower, seed, and leaves benefiting humans and bees are dāna; their fragrance is śīla; growing in the mud without being disgraced is kṣānti; growing taller is vīrya; being soft and moist is dhyāna; being undefiled is prajñā. Up to here illustrates the wondrousness of practice.