妙法蓮華經文句 3.15

3.15

從「是時文殊師利語彌勒」下訖偈，名答問序，有長行偈頌。長行文為四：一、從「語彌勒」下，名惟忖答；二、從「善男子我於過去」下，名略曾見答；三、從「諸善男子如過去」下，名廣曾見答；四、從「今見此瑞與本無異」下，名分明判答。夫以下測上，止可罔像卜度、惟昔儔今，不可頓決，所以初從髣髴，次引略見，略見未周，更引廣見，以多證一，爾乃分判。惟忖答，答上此土問；略曾見答，答上他土問；廣曾見答，雙答此土、他土問；判當答，雙判此土他土問也。

From "At that time Mañjuśrī said to Maitreya" down to the end of the verses is titled "The Preface Answering the Questions," which contains both prose and gāthās. The prose text has four parts: 1. from "said to Maitreya" downward is called the Answer by Reflection; 2. from "Good sons, in the past I..." downward is called the Answer by Brief Past Experience; 3. from "Good sons, just as in the past..." downward is called the Answer by Extensive Past Experience; 4. from "Now seeing this auspicious sign, it is no different from the original..." downward is called the Clear and Decisive Answer. When the lower fathoms the higher, one can only make approximate conjectures and compare the past with the present, but cannot make an abrupt determination. Therefore, he begins with a vague impression, next cites a brief observation, and since the brief observation is not complete, he further cites an extensive observation, using the many to verify the one, and only then does he make a decisive judgment. The Answer by Reflection answers the above question about this land; the Answer by Brief Past Experience answers the above question about other lands; the Answer by Extensive Past Experience answers both the questions about this land and other lands; the Decisive Answer decisively settles both the questions about this land and other lands.