妙法蓮華經文句 4.72

4.72

From "Such wonderful Dharma" onward is the main extensive exposition; the text has two parts: first, explaining the section on the four buddhas, expanding on the expedient and real of all buddhas above; second, explaining the section on Śākyamuni, expanding on the expedient and real of Śākyamuni above. Above, the verses were few, which was an abbreviation of the text; speaking generally of "all buddhas" was an abbreviation of the persons; merely opening the three and revealing the one was an abbreviation of the meaning. Here, the sections and phrases are many, which is an expansion of the text; explaining the five buddhas is an expansion of the persons; explaining the six turns is an expansion of the meaning. The six are: first, praising the Dharma as rare; second, preaching that it is not false; third, opening the expedient; fourth, demonstrating the real; fifth, citing the five turbidities to explain the expedient; sixth, screening out the false to urge the real. Praising the Dharma causes them to produce respect; preaching that it is without falsehood halts their slander; opening the expedient causes them not to cling to the small; demonstrating the real causes them to awaken to the great; citing the five turbidities shows the necessity of applying the three; screening out the false requires that it must be the real. In each of the five sections, each should be complete with the six meanings; that they appear alternately before and after without being fully present is because the Tathāgata preached skillfully, making it concise without omission, penetrating without redundant text. Furthermore, the order of the six meanings is of no fixed consequence (and so forth).