妙法蓮華經文句 7.39

7.39

The beginning of the chapter extensively explains causes and conditions, while the end concludes with the simile of the conjured city. If based on the former, it should be called "Previous Lifetimes"; the sūtra follows the latter, hence saying "Conjured City." Furthermore, those of superior capacity had slight doubts, so [the Buddha] merely took the three-seven [twenty-one days] of contemplation beneath the Bodhi tree to clarify their capacity and conditions; those of medium capacity had dense doubts, so similes were added, drawing from the supreme path taught by twenty thousand koṭis of Buddhas to serve as their capacity and conditions; those of lower capacity have even thicker doubts, so he clarifies the capacity and conditions of distant previous lifetimes. If one starts from the beginning of previous lifetimes, it clarifies the distant causes and conditions; speaking of the middle, it speaks of the conjured city; clarifying its culmination, it speaks of the place of jewels. The compiler of the sūtra, standing in the middle, titles the chapter, thus embracing both the beginning and the end; following this convenient meaning, it is therefore called the "Conjured City Chapter."