妙法蓮華經文句 1.3

1.3

敘曰：至理無名，名流四天之下；真乘不動，動出三界之中。證教即事而凝然，悉檀隨緣而化物，無謀汲引，功莫大哉！《妙法蓮華經》者，洎仁雄出世，為一大事因緣之所說之也。但藥木不同，受潤成異；機宜匪一，稟教亦差。其施權也，則鹿苑四諦之法輪；其顯實也，則鷲峯三變之淨土。旨深詞寘，人尊道高，彰壽量之遠本，會伽耶之近迹。雨吹擊演，廢昔說之筌蹄；開示悟入，獲今家之魚兔。微塵菩薩，增道損生；草庵聲聞，恥小欣大。藥王燒臂而供養，多寶全身以證明，圓極冲微，不可得而言也。

The preface states: The ultimate principle has no name, yet its name flows beneath the four heavens; the true vehicle is motionless, yet in its motion it transcends the three realms. Realization and teaching remain serene amid phenomenal matters, and the siddhāntas transform beings in accord with conditions; guiding them without premeditation, how great is its efficacy! As for the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra, it was spoken when the Benevolent Hero appeared in the world for the sake of the one great matter of causality. Yet medicinal herbs and trees are not identical, receiving moisture and developing differently; the capacities [of beings] are not uniform, and the teachings they receive likewise diverge. When [the Buddha] deployed the expedient, it was the Dharma wheel of the Four Noble Truths in the Deer Park; when he revealed the real, it was the pure land of the threefold transformation at Vulture Peak. Its purport is profound and its phrasing exalted; the person is revered and the Path is elevated. It discloses the distant origin of the [Tathāgata's] lifespan and harmonizes the recent traces of Gayā. Raining, blowing, striking, and preaching, it discards the fish traps and rabbit snares of former expositions; opening, demonstrating, awakening to, and entering, it captures the fish and hares of the present teaching. Bodhisattvas numerous as dust motes advance on the Path and diminish rebirths; śrāvakas in grass huts feel ashamed of the small and delight in the great. Bhaiṣajyarāja burned his arms in offering, and Prabhūtaratna presented his whole body in verification; perfectly consummate, subtle and profound, it cannot be expressed in words.