妙法蓮華經玄義 7.73

7.73

○五、廣釋者，夫非本無以垂迹，若能解迹則亦知本，為未解者更重分別。但本極法身，微妙深遠，佛若不說，彌勒尚闇，何況下地！何況凡夫！雖然父母之年不可不知，如來功德何容不識？今略依經旨，髣髴推尋。

Fifth, extensive explanation: indeed, without the original source there is no way to manifest traces; if one can understand the traces, one also knows the original source. For those who have not yet understood, we distinguish it once again. However, the ultimate dharma-kāya of the original source is subtle, wondrous, profound, and far-reaching; if the Buddha did not speak of it, even Maitreya would remain in the dark—how much more so those of lower stages! How much more so ordinary worldlings! Nonetheless, one cannot fail to know the age of one's parents; how could one allow oneself not to recognize the merits of the Tathāgata? Now, briefly relying on the purport of the sūtra, we vaguely infer and seek it out.