妙法蓮華經玄義 5.30

5.30

In this sūtra, the 'Chapter on the Discrimination of Merits' clarifies the stages of the disciples of the five grades of the initial mind, and the text is very clear. The 'Chapter on the Merits of the Dharma Master' clarifies the marks of the purification of the six sense faculties. The 'Expedient Means Chapter' says: 'The buddhas appear in the world for the sake of the one great causal condition: to cause sentient beings to open the buddha's knowledge and vision.' Regarding these four phrases, Master Nanyue explained: 'Opening the buddha's knowledge and vision is the stages of the ten abodes; revealing the buddha's knowledge and vision is the stages of the ten practices; awakening to the buddha's knowledge and vision is the stages of the ten dedications; entering the buddha's knowledge and vision is the stages of the ten grounds and virtual enlightenment. In all cases, stating "buddha's knowledge" means attaining the wisdom of all modes. In all cases, stating "buddha's vision" means attaining the buddha-eye.' Furthermore, the sūtra saying, 'This is the one great causal condition of the buddhas,' refers to entering together into the one vehicle, the true reality of all dharmas. Furthermore, saying, 'Only a buddha and a buddha can completely exhaust the true reality of all dharmas,' refers precisely to the stage of wondrous enlightenment. Furthermore, in the 'Chapter on Parables', the sons outside the gate ask for carts, and the elder gives each of them an equally great cart. At that time, riding this jewelled vehicle, the sons roam in the four directions, frolicking and happy, unobstructed and free, going straight to the place of enlightenment. Speaking of the 'four directions' exemplifies the forty stages of opening, revealing, awakening, and entering. Going 'straight to the place of enlightenment' is completely exhausting true reality, the stage of wondrous enlightenment. In the 'Introductory Chapter', the sky rains down four kinds of flowers, representing these forty causal stages. As cited above, various sūtras serve as evidence. And citing the present text clarifies that the forty-two stages are brilliant; they are all the sequence of non-sequential stages, which penetrate true reality, augment the path and diminish saṃsāra, discussing sequence on that basis.