妙法蓮華經玄義 8.33

8.33

雪山為八字，捨所愛身，是為行本。我解一句乃至半句，得見佛性，入大涅槃，即是位本。我得三菩提，皆由聞經，及稱善哉，字即乘本。若忘失句逗，還令通利，與其三昧，及陀羅尼，即感應本。依文學通即神通本。依字故得語，即說法本。說字教他即眷屬本。勤學此字，祿在其中，即利益本。

For the sake of eight characters, [the ascetic of the] Snow Mountains renounced his cherished body; this is the root of practice. When I understand a single phrase or even half a phrase, I come to see the buddha-nature and enter the great nirvāṇa; this is the root of spiritual stages. That I attained supreme bodhi was entirely due to hearing the sūtra and exclaiming "Excellent!"; characters are thus the root of the vehicle. If one forgets phrases or punctuation, they are made flowing and sharp again, and one is granted samādhi and dhāraṇī; this is the root of stimulus and response. Penetration relying on literary learning is the root of supernatural powers. Obtaining speech by relying on characters is the root of preaching the Dharma. Teaching others by expounding characters is the root of the retinue. Diligently studying these characters brings emolument along with it; this is the root of benefit.