法華玄義釋籤 19.2

19.2

五教相中二：先明來意，次開章解釋。初文中又二：初正明來意，次「但聖」下述開章意。初文云「若弘法華」至「有闕」者，法華前經，但當文判釋於義未失，當文辨教於理易明；若弘法華，須辨一期五時教相，說佛本意，意在何之？諸經有體，體趣何等？明宗明用為何所依？是故前釋宗用中云，用是宗用、宗是體宗，名總標三、教相判四，是故法華不明教相，使前四義冥無所顯，四義不顯妙法難明，故不明教相於理實闕。次文為五：初「但聖意」下述大意意，次「前代」下述異解意，三「雖阡陌」下述明難意，四「然義不」下述去取意，五「南嶽」下述判教意。以聖旨難知，故須先出大意。以諸師不同，故須逐失略列。以無一全，是故一一難破。以不全非，故須明去取，唯證可從，故準南嶽正判。

Fifth, within the characteristics of the teachings, there are two parts: first, clarifying the rationale for its introduction; next, opening the sections to explain. The first text also has two parts: first, directly clarifying the rationale for its introduction; next, from "However, the holy..." downward sets forth the intent of opening the sections. The first text says: "If one propagates the Lotus..." up to "...there is a deficiency." Regarding sūtras prior to the Lotus, merely judging and explaining them according to the immediate text does not lose the meaning, and discerning the teachings according to the immediate text makes the principle easy to clarify; but if one propagates the Lotus, one must discern the characteristics of the teachings throughout the five periods of a single lifetime, expounding the Buddha's original intent: where did that intent lie? The various sūtras possess substance: toward what does that substance tend? In clarifying the lineage and clarifying the function, what do they rely upon? Therefore, in the earlier explanation of lineage and function, it was said: function is the function of the lineage, lineage is the lineage of the substance, name generally marks the three, and the characteristics of the teachings classify all four; therefore, if the Lotus did not clarify the characteristics of the teachings, it would leave the former four meanings hidden without being revealed, and if the four meanings are not revealed, the subtle Dharma would be difficult to clarify; hence, not clarifying the characteristics of the teachings would truly be a deficiency regarding the principle. The next text has five parts: first, from "However, the holy intent..." downward sets forth the intent of the general outline; next, from "Former generations..." downward sets forth the intent of differing interpretations; third, from "Although crisscrossing..." downward sets forth the intent of raising objections; fourth, from "Yet the meaning does not..." downward sets forth the intent of accepting and rejecting; fifth, from "Nanyue..." downward sets forth the intent of classifying the teachings. Because the holy intent is difficult to know, one must first bring out the general outline. Because the various masters differ, one must briefly list them according to their errors. Because not one is completely [correct], they are refuted one by one through objections. Because they are not completely wrong, one must clarify what is accepted and rejected; only realization may be followed, so one strictly follows Nanyue's correct classification.