妙法蓮華經文句 5.27

5.27

First, the general explanation: "pì" (analogy) means comparing and likening; "yù" (parable) means enlightening and instructing. It relies on this to compare with that, lodging the shallow to instruct the deep. Previously, the prose and gāthās on the five buddhas were broadly clarified; those of superior faculties and sharp wisdom heard the perfect [teaching] and attained awakening, while the intermediate and lower sorts harboured confusion and had not yet dispelled it. With ceaseless great compassion and boundless skillful wisdom, [the Buddha] again moves the trees to instruct about the wind, and raises a fan to illustrate the moon, so that they may awaken and understand; hence it is called "parable." As for the specific explanation: worldly phenomena are used to compare with supramundane phenomena, so that relying on what previously existed they hear what has never existed before and leap with joy—as in the sūtra, worldly sons and fathers illustrate supramundane teachers and disciples. Furthermore, worldly phenomena of arising are used to compare with supramundane phenomena of arising, causing them to receive the Buddha's voice and teaching without losing the Mahāyāna—as in the sūtra, the father knows that his various sons each have their prior preferences for precious playthings. Furthermore, worldly cessation is used to compare with supramundane cessation, so that although they have attained the undefiled, hearing it also removes sorrow and affliction—as in the sūtra, I am their father and should pull them out of their suffering and distress to spare them from burning and boiling. Furthermore, worldly non-arising and non-cessation is used to compare with supramundane non-arising and non-cessation, causing them to dwell securely in real wisdom, [thinking] "I will definitely become a buddha"—as in the sūtra, riding this jeweled carriage straight to the bodhimanda. One should know that the Buddha uses a single voice to speak the parable, skillfully enabling intermediate and lower [faculties] to attain the benefits of the four siddhāntas; hence it is called the "Parable Chapter."