妙法蓮華經文句 7.8

7.8

First is matching the dense cloud. First, it cites the Buddha's bodily mystery to match the cloud having form; later, it cites the Buddha's verbal mystery to match the cloud having sound. "The Tathāgata is also like this, appearing in the world" directly matches the response body appearing in the world. "Like a great cloud arising" cites the parable and pastes it onto the match, clarifying that the Tathāgata's great loving-kindness manifests a body to shelter and nurture all. "With a great voice" cites the Buddha's verbal mystery to match the cloud having sound. "Devas, humans, and asuras" specifically cites the three wholesome destinies receiving the benefit of the verbal mystery, which are the thirty sons of the faculties of the three vehicles, specifically receiving the benefit of the voice. "Like that great cloud" cites the parable and pastes it onto the match of the cloud having sound. "Pervading the chiliocosm" universally cites all as buddha sons, together receiving the benefit of the verbal mystery. Or at times it only matches five parables, taking "pervading the world" onward to concurrently match the world and earth. The world is the realm of lands; devas, humans, and asuras are the nominal realm and five-aggregate realm—nominal matches the world above, and the five aggregates match the mountains, rivers, ravines, and valleys above.

From "proclaiming in the great assembly" onward is the second [part], matching the fourth [element] above, the pouring rain parable. First, it marks the headings; next, it encourages listening and receiving. The headings are six: 1. the ten epithets, meaning "Tathāgata, Arhat," etc.; 2. the four universal vows, meaning "those not yet crossed over I cause to cross over," etc.; 3. the three knowledges, meaning "this world, the world to come," etc.; 4. the three wisdoms in a single mind, meaning "the knower is complete"; 5. the five eyes, meaning "the seer"; 6. the three karmas functioning together with wisdom: "knowing the path" means the mind is unshielded, "opening the path" means the body is unshielded, and "preaching the path" means the speech is unshielded; he is also called the guide, meaning the one who knows the path, etc. From "You devas and humans" onward, it encourages living beings to listen and receive. The Buddha's eight tones express the six kinds of dharma doors; speaking from the majority, he encourages the three wholesome destinies that they should go to listen to the Dharma.