法華文句記 3.156

3.156

「表無問自說」者，〈方便品〉初從三昧起告舍利弗，廣歎略歎此土他土，寄言絕言、若境若智，此乃一經之根本、五時之要津，此事不輕故須先表，即十二部中之一也。「現諸」等者，都指四行故名為總，其中六瑞文相猶別，初一行頌說法，次一行頌入定，次二句頌雨華，但加天鼓以助妙因，次半行頌眾喜，次半行頌地動，次一句頌放光，不能細分但且云總。以兼天鼓，天龍供養，非灼然云喜，故且云總，良由此也。頌他土中，初頌六趣中三行為四：初半行重明總瑞。次一句正舉六趣故云「一切」。次一句中總明生死因果及處，「生死」兩字總標也。業明生死之因、報明生死之果，處即二十五有，故亦與此同也。次一行明所依土。前長行文及問答中皆不云光色，至此方云者前豈應無？次一行明諸趣供養。雖云供養，意表機成，當知前亦非無也。

Regarding "symbolizing preaching without inquiry": at the beginning of the "Skillful Means Chapter," rising from samādhi, he addressed Śāriputra, extensively praising and briefly praising, this land and other lands, using words and transcending words, whether objects or wisdom. This is the root of the entire sūtra and the vital crossing of the five periods; this matter is not light, so it must be symbolized first, which is one among the twelve divisions [of scriptures]. Regarding "manifesting various," etc.: it refers collectively to the four practices, hence named "general." Among them, the textual characteristics of the six auspicious signs are still distinct: the first line versifies preaching the Dharma; the next line versifies entering samādhi; the next two lines versify raining flowers, only adding heavenly drums to assist the wondrous cause; the next half-line versifies the assembly's joy; the next half-line versifies the earth shaking; the next one line versifies emitting light. Unable to divide them in detail, it just provisionally calls it "general." Because it includes the heavenly drums and the offerings of devas and dragons, which are not clearly said to be joy, it provisionally calls it "general"; it is truly due to this. In the versification of other lands, it first versifies the four among the three practices in the six destinies: the first half-line restates the general auspicious signs. The next line properly raises the six destinies, hence saying "all." In the next line, it generally clarifies the causes, fruits, and places of birth and death; the two characters "birth and death" generally designate them. Karma clarifies the causes of birth and death, retribution clarifies the fruits of birth and death, and the places are the twenty-five states of existence; therefore it is also the same as this. The next line clarifies the lands upon which they rely. The previous prose text and the questions and answers did not mention the color of the light; mentioning it only when reaching this point, could it really have been absent before? The next line clarifies the offerings of the various destinies. Although it speaks of offerings, the intention is to symbolize that their capacities were mature; one should know that they were not absent before either.