妙法蓮華經玄義 7.70

7.70

Second, concerning the arising [of the sequence]: these ten meanings, directly expounded to meet specific conditions, are scattered throughout the text of the sūtra. Wishing now to arrange them in order, an account of their arising is necessary. The reason the original cause is placed first is that one must depend on the cause to attain the fruit. Because the fruit is accomplished, there is a land. When the ultimate fruit abides in a land, there is illumination of spiritual capacities. When spiritual capacities are stirred, then transformation is dispensed; when transformation is dispensed, there are supernormal powers. After supernormal powers, next the Dharma is preached for them. Those reached by the preaching of the Dharma then constitute the retinue. When the retinue has been delivered and conditions are exhausted, there is nirvāṇa. Because there is nirvāṇa, one discusses the length of lifespan, the benefits wrought by a lifespan whether long or short, and even the benefits of the correct and semblance Dharma periods after the Buddha's extinction. The meanings are indeed limitless; we merely establish ten items, which encompass the beginning and the end and thereby form a coherent sequence.