法華玄義釋籤 2.9

2.9

'There is another meaning' means that the simile of the Avataṃsaka Sūtra only speaks of the flat earth; now, separating that flat earth, it uses it as a simile for vaipulya, prajñā, and the Lotus Sūtra: vaipulya is like mealtime, prajñā is like late morning, and the Lotus Sūtra is like midday. Adding two meanings to that meaning, it therefore says 'there is another.' The phrase 'the great persons receive its light and function,' and so forth, means that the great persons, the bodhisattvas, receive the prajñā light and the functions of all dharmas; since the people of the two vehicles do not possess this function, they are therefore likened to a seven-day-old infant who, if gazing at the solar disk, causes its eyes to lose their sight, hence called 'losing.' The darkness and realization of outsiders is likened to walking at night; the bodhisattva's benefiting of others is likened to engaging in tasks. 'Tasks' means labor and work. Therefore, below 'the text says,' it cites the self-narration of the śrāvakas of faith and understanding to match the infant losing its eyesight: the brilliance of all-knowledge is obscured by the light of prajñā, and fundamental ignorance remains entirely intact, which in meaning is like losing. Below 'although the three people all learn,' it is the intention of the preaching. It still lacks the reason for the preaching; it should also say that it is truly because the small had gradually become broad and unobstructed, causing them to be inspired to preach.