妙法蓮華經文句 7.3

7.3

Although mountains, rivers, clouds, and rain are all present here, the title is specifically designated with "Medicinal Herbs" because the earth is that which can produce, the clouds and rain are that which can moisten, and the herbs and trees are what are produced and moistened. What is produced and moistened are all useful without exception, yet the efficacy of medicinal herbs is potent: conditioned wholesome [deeds] can all eliminate evil, but unconditioned [wholesomeness] is supreme. Among the unconditioned assembly, the four great disciples, using a parable, received the Buddha's parable and deeply tallied with the Sage's intent. The Buddha praised them, saying, "Excellent! Extremely rare!" He related their attainment of understanding using a parable for those persons; hence it is called the "Chapter on the Parable of the Medicinal Herbs". Now, medicinal herbs grow in clusters over a long time; once they receive the clouds and rain, they spread luxuriously and shine brightly, their sprouts and stems flourishing abundantly on the outside while their functional efficacy is richly saturated on the inside. This is like those of unconditioned [wisdom] who abide in their final body and in nirvāṇa with remainder, no longer aspiring to seek the unsurpassed Buddha Path; now, having heard the sūtra, they themselves ride the Buddha Vehicle and moreover carry other people with it. The text says: "We today are true śrāvakas," for by means of the sound of the Buddha Path they cause all to hear it. Inwardly and outwardly, for oneself and for others, they are fully endowed with superior functional efficacy; hence it is called the "Chapter on the Parable of the Medicinal Herbs". Now, medicinal herbs can dispel wind and cold of the four elements, nourish the five viscera, restore youth, and arrest aging. Now, receiving the clouds and rain, they suddenly become the king of herbs; ingested, they universally cure all illnesses, transforming one's physical form into that of an immortal. This is like those of unconditioned [wisdom] who, hearing the sūtra, shatter the delusion of fundamental ignorance and open the buddha knowledge and vision. The text says: "We today are true children of the Buddha; the unsurpassed mass of jewels has come of itself without our seeking." All that a child of the Buddha ought to obtain, they have already obtained; before the Buddha's face, they receive their prediction. Praising what is manifest to extol what is subtle, it is therefore called the "Chapter on the Parable of the Medicinal Herbs". The first round is the understanding and approval between master and disciple, which is the meaning of the worldly siddhānta. The next round generates goodness, which is the meaning of the individual adaptation siddhānta. The next round conveys the meanings of both the counteractive and the paramārtha siddhāntas. This is called "explaining the chapter according to causes and conditions". The rest according to the teachings, the origin and traces, and contemplation of mind may be known by analogy with this model; they will not be recorded again (and so forth).