妙法蓮華經文句 7.7

7.7

From "Kāśyapa, you should know that the Tathāgata" onward is matching the parable; matching the differentiated parable has two parts: first, directly matching; next, adducing the parable and pasting it onto the match. The differentiated parable has six [elements], but here the matching is not in sequence. Unfolding the parable clarifies the faculties, thus treating sentient beings first; matching the parable clarifies the response, thus matching the Tathāgata first, as the Tathāgata is the lord of conversion. Here, the first directly matches the third [element] above, the dense cloud, and also concurrently matches the first, the world; the second here matches the fourth [element] above, the pouring rain parable; the third here matches the first [element] above, the parable of the mountains, rivers, ravines, and valleys of the world; the fourth here matches the second [element] above, the plants and trees; the fifth here matches the fifth [element] above, receiving moisture; the sixth here matches the sixth [element] above, the parable of growth. As for the sequence of matching the parable: it clarifies that when the Tathāgata responds to the world, there is the preaching of the Dharma with the eight tones; preaching the Dharma entails sentient beings receiving conversion; sentient beings hearing the Dharma each receive the moisture of the path; receiving moisture is identical, yet not without differentiated growth (and so forth).