妙法蓮華經文句 5.72

5.72

「舍利弗如來亦復」下，第二，合譬。光宅開十譬，但合七不合三，七中正合五，兼第五第八，不合第七第九，故知十譬繁而不會。今合總、別二譬，總中有六，今文皆合，小不次第。今初第一合上第一，上長者名行位號德業，合云如來亦復如是，先合位號，如來無量德號，略舉十義如上說。「一切世間」，將處所以定名行，上云國邑聚落，合直云一切世間，通指同居、有餘自體，皆是妙色妙心果報之處，如來遍應三處，即一切世間合上國邑聚落也。「於諸怖畏」下，合上歎內外德，內是年高衰邁，識達則多，譬如來智斷，於諸怖畏無明永盡，合上衰邁顯斷德也。「成就無量知見」，合其年高顯智德也；「力無畏」等，合上外德財富無量也。「神力」者，深修禪定能得神通，合上田也。「智慧力」，智必照境，如身之託處，合上宅也。「具足方便波羅蜜」，合上諸僕從也。從「大慈大悲」下，第二，合上第四，慈悲是施化之本，「一切」是五道，恒為慈悲所被，合上五百人也。「而生三界火宅」下，第三，合上第二，其家也。「為度眾生」下，第四，合上第六，眾生有緣。親者前度，合上三十子也。「生老病死」等下，第五，合上第五，炊然火起譬也。「教化令得三菩提」下，第六，合上第三，教能詮理尋理起行即得菩提，故知教理共用，合上唯有一門譬也。若講說令前後可解，一一須提〈方便品〉譬本來勘捒之，後去例爾。

From "Śāriputra, the Tathāgata is also like this" below, the second [section] correlates the parable. Guangzhai divides it into ten parables, but correlates only seven and does not correlate three; among the seven, he properly correlates five, conflating the fifth and eighth, and does not correlate the seventh and ninth; thus we know that ten parables are cumbersome and inappropriate. Now we correlate the general and specific parables. In the general there are six, and the present text correlates all of them, though slightly out of sequence.
Now the first correlates the first above: the elder's name, conduct, status, and virtuous deeds above are correlated by saying, "The Tathāgata is also like this." First, correlating his status: the Tathāgata's immeasurable virtuous titles, briefly raising the ten meanings as explained above. "In all worlds": taking the location to determine his name and conduct; above it says "state, city, or village," which is correlated by simply saying "all worlds," comprehensively pointing to the realms of common abode, remainder, and essential nature, which are all places of retribution of wondrous form and wondrous mind; the Tathāgata universally responds in these three places, so "all worlds" correlates to the "state, city, or village" above.
From "Among all fears" below correlates the praise of internal and external virtues above. Internally, being advanced in years and decrepit means his understanding and discernment are great, illustrating the Tathāgata's wisdom and severance: among all fears, fundamental ignorance is forever exhausted, correlating to decrepitude above to reveal the virtue of severance. "Accomplished in immeasurable knowledge and vision" correlates to his advanced age to reveal the virtue of wisdom. "Powers, fearlessnesses," etc., correlate to the external virtue of immeasurable wealth above. "Spiritual power" means profoundly cultivating meditative concentration to attain spiritual powers, correlating to the fields above. "Power of wisdom": wisdom must illuminate objects, just as the body relies on a place to dwell, correlating to the house above. "Endowed with the pāramitā of expedient means" correlates to the grooms and attendants above.
From "Great benevolence and great compassion" below is the second, correlating to the fourth above; benevolence and compassion are the basis for bestowing conversion; "all" refers to the five paths, which are constantly covered by benevolence and compassion, correlating to the five hundred people above.
From "And is born into the burning house of the triple world" below is the third, correlating to the second above, his house.
From "In order to save sentient beings" below is the fourth, correlating to the sixth above: sentient beings have affinities, and those close are saved first, correlating to the thirty children above.
From "Birth, old age, sickness, and death" and so forth below is the fifth, correlating to the fifth above, the parable of the fire flaring up.
From "Teaching and transforming them to attain sambodhi" below is the sixth, correlating to the third above: teaching can express the principle, and seeking the principle one generates practice and thus attains bodhi; hence we know teaching and principle are used together, correlating to the parable of there being only one gate above. If one lectures to make the earlier and later parts intelligible, one must compare and examine each against the root parable in the "Expedient Means Chapter"; what follows is also like this.