妙法蓮華經文句 5.44

5.44

The parabolic exposition is divided into two: first, the request; second, the answer. The request has three parts: 1. Stating that he himself has no doubts; 2. Stating that his peers have confusion; 3. Requesting generally on behalf of the fourfold assembly. Stating for himself is as in the text. His peers are his fellow practitioners; having old attachments, he must make a request for them. The fourfold assembly is the realm of conversion; now newly giving rise to great compassion, he universally requests on their behalf. From "The Buddha constantly taught and transformed" downwards refers to clinging to the three previous teachings. From "Yet now before the World-Honoured One" downwards refers to clinging to the former single principle. Formerly, preaching the three was considered ultimate, yet now the one is declared to be the real; the contradiction leads to delusion, hence it says "they have all fallen into doubt and confusion." Someone said: "Śāriputra had both new and old doubts, whereas the twelve hundred had only the new doubt." We say now that those of higher faculties have few doubts, while those of middling and lower faculties have many doubts; how could one interpret it backwards? From "Excellent, World-Honoured One" downwards is the universal request for the fourfold assembly. Causal conditions refers to the causal conditions of the prior three and the subsequent one.