妙法蓮華經文句 2.182

2.182

次明佛放光瑞，即表應機設教，破惑除疑。白毫具種種功德，《觀佛海三昧經》云：「佛初生時，牽長五尺，苦行時長一丈四尺，得佛時長一丈五尺，其毫中表俱空，如白琉璃筒，內外清淨。從初發心，中間行行種種相貌，乃至入涅槃，一切功德皆現毫中。」毫在二眉之間，即表中道常也，其相柔軟表樂，卷舒自在表我，白即表淨，放光破闇表中道生智慧，光照此土、他土表自覺、覺他。

Next is to clarify the omen of the Buddha emitting light: this represents establishing the teaching in response to capacity, shattering perplexity, and removing doubt. The white curl possesses various merits. The Guanfo hai sanmei jing says: "When the Buddha was first born, it stretched to five feet in length; during his ascetic practices, it was fourteen feet long; when he attained buddhahood, it was fifteen feet long. The inside and outside of the curl were both hollow, like a white lapis lazuli tube, pure inside and out. From his initial aspiration, through the various marks of his practices in between, up to his entering nirvāṇa, all merits appeared within the curl." The curl is between the two eyebrows, representing the eternity of the Middle Way. Its supple mark represents bliss; its rolling and unrolling at will represents self; its whiteness represents purity; emitting light to shatter darkness represents the arising of wisdom from the Middle Way; and the light illuminating this land and other lands represents self-awakening and awakening others.