妙法蓮華經文句 5.72

5.72

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.