[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [妙法蓮華經文句](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1718) › 3.45 # 妙法蓮華經文句 3.45 妙法蓮華經文句 3.45 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [3.45](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1718.3.45) ○釋此有略、廣。略為二：先、略，次、料簡。「方」者法也，「便」者用也；法有方圓，用有差會；三權是矩、是方，一實是規、是圓。若智詣於矩，則善用偏法逗會眾生；若智詣於規，則善用圓法逗會眾生。譬如偏舉指以目偏處，是舉偏法以目智，宜用法以釋方，將用以釋便。若總舉指以目圓處，宜將祕以釋方，妙以釋便也。舉偏法釋方便，蓋隨眾生欲，非佛本懷，如經令離諸著出三界苦，是故如來殷勤稱歎方便。此義可釋他經，非今品意。又方便者，門也，門名能通，通於所通，方便權略皆是哢引，為真實作門，真實得顯，功由方便，從能顯得名，故以門釋方便，如經：「開方便門示真實相」，此義可釋他經，非今品意。又方者祕也，便者妙也，妙達於方即是真祕，點內衣裏無價之珠，與王頂上唯有一珠，無二無別；指客作人是長者子亦無二無別，如斯之言，是祕、是妙，如經：「唯我知是相，十方佛亦然」「止止不須說，我法妙難思。」故以祕釋方，以妙釋便，正是今品之意，故言方便品也。 > Explaining this has a brief and an extensive \[treatment\]. The brief has two parts: first, brief, and next, critical evaluation. 'Fang' (expedient) means method/norm; 'bian' (means/adaptability) means function/application. Norms may be square or round; applications may be divergent or concordant. The three expedients are the carpenter's square, which is square; the one real is the compass, which is round. If wisdom attains the carpenter's square, it skillfully applies partial dharmas to accommodate and gather sentient beings; if wisdom attains the compass, it skillfully applies the perfect dharma to accommodate and gather sentient beings. For example, partially pointing a finger to indicate a partial spot is raising a partial dharma to indicate wisdom; it is appropriate to use 'method' to explain \*fang\*, and 'application' to explain \*bian\*. If comprehensively raising a finger to indicate a round spot, it is appropriate to use 'secret' to explain \*fang\*, and 'wonderful' to explain \*bian\*. Raising partial dharmas to explain 'expedient means' merely accords with the desires of sentient beings and is not the Buddha's original intent, just as the sūtra says: '\[The buddhas\] cause them to leave attachments and emerge from the suffering of the triple world; therefore the Tathāgatas diligently praise expedient means.' This meaning can explain other sūtras, but is not the intent of the present chapter. Furthermore, 'expedient means' is a gate; a 'gate' is named for being able to grant access, leading through to that which is accessed. Expedient devices are all enticements serving as a gate for the real. That the real can be revealed is due to the efficacy of the expedient means; taking its name from being able to reveal \[the real\], 'expedient means' is therefore explained as a 'gate', just as the sūtra says: 'Opening the gate of expedient means and demonstrating the True Characteristic.' This meaning can explain other sūtras, but is not the intent of the present chapter. Furthermore, \*fang\* means secret, and \*bian\* means wonderful. Wonderfully penetrating \*fang\* is precisely the true secret: pointing out that the priceless jewel inside the garment and the single jewel atop the king's head are without duality and without distinction, or pointing out that the hired laborer is the elder's son is also without duality and without distinction. Words such as these are secret and wonderful, just as the sūtra says: 'Only I know these characteristics, and the buddhas of the ten directions do likewise,' and 'Stop, stop, no need to speak; my dharma is wonderful and hard to conceive.' Therefore, explaining \*fang\* as secret and \*bian\* as wonderful is precisely the intent of the present chapter; hence it is called the 'Expedient Means Chapter'. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 3.44](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1718.3.44) - [Next: 3.46](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1718.3.46) - [Up: 3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1718.3) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1718~en-mt.3.45) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1718.3.45](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1718.3.45) · Pramāṇa