妙法蓮華經文句 7.39

7.39

品初廣說因緣，末則結譬化城，若從前應稱宿世，經從末故言化城。又上根疑薄，但取道樹三七思惟，以明機緣；中根疑濃加以譬喻，探取二萬億佛所教無上道，以為機緣；下根疑復厚，則明宿世久遠機緣。若從宿世之始，明久遠因緣，語其中間言其化城，明其究竟言其寶所，經家處中標品，收得初後，從此義便，故言化城品。

The beginning of the chapter extensively explains causes and conditions, while the end concludes with the simile of the conjured city. If based on the former, it should be called "Previous Lifetimes"; the sūtra follows the latter, hence saying "Conjured City." Furthermore, those of superior capacity had slight doubts, so [the Buddha] merely took the three-seven [twenty-one days] of contemplation beneath the Bodhi tree to clarify their capacity and conditions; those of medium capacity had dense doubts, so similes were added, drawing from the supreme path taught by twenty thousand koṭis of Buddhas to serve as their capacity and conditions; those of lower capacity have even thicker doubts, so he clarifies the capacity and conditions of distant previous lifetimes. If one starts from the beginning of previous lifetimes, it clarifies the distant causes and conditions; speaking of the middle, it speaks of the conjured city; clarifying its culmination, it speaks of the place of jewels. The compiler of the sūtra, standing in the middle, titles the chapter, thus embracing both the beginning and the end; following this convenient meaning, it is therefore called the "Conjured City Chapter."