妙法蓮華經玄義 4.113

4.113

Now, the 'Parable of the Medicinal Herbs' chapter merely clarifies six stages. The text says: 'Wheel-turning sage kings, Śakra, and the Brahmā kings are the small medicinal herbs. Those who understand the outflow-free dharmas and are able to attain nirvāṇa…, dwelling alone in mountain forests,… attain the realization of pratyekabuddhas, are the medium medicinal herbs. Those who seek the place of the World-Honoured One, saying "I shall become a buddha," practicing vigor and dhyāna, are the superior medicinal herbs. Furthermore, the sons of the Buddha who focus their minds on the buddha-way, constantly practicing benevolence and compassion, knowing of themselves that they will become buddhas, decidedly without doubt, are named small trees. Those who peacefully abide in supernatural powers, turn the non-retrogressing wheel, and deliver immeasurable hundreds of thousands of myriads of kots of sentient beings… are named large trees.' Looking back to take 'growing from one earth and moistened by one rain' from the prose section, along with the later text saying 'I shall now speak to you of the most real matter,' these are taken as the sixth stage. The former three meanings are the stages within the Tripiṭaka [teaching]; the small trees are the stages of the shared [teaching]; the large trees are the stages of the distinctive [teaching]; the most real matter is the stages of the perfect [teaching].