法華文句記 7.57

7.57

「我雖」下探說後期，儻一期報謝無付故惜，如唱滅度法皆隨滅垂滅尚惜，故名為「雖」。「即遣旁人」等者，從此方領施頓漸化，故知爾前譬頓漸前若大若小。「但方便品」至「併領」者，意云：文雖增減意必俱存，方便既為上根，是故不須別說；譬說既為中品，故須離總出別；合及頌中雖復闕略，以譬為正餘並互兼，今既領譬應須遍述。言「但方便品總誡勸」等者，恐尋者紛紜，更重疏出，〈方便品〉文釋迦章中但云「寢大施小」，雖不云勸誡之別，語意在勸，故云「於三七日中思惟如是事」等，即大擬也。「眾生諸根鈍」即無機也。「如斯之等類」即息化也。「即趣波羅奈」等即施小也。雖不云誡，義含二門。「火宅開勸出誡」者，故從法說於勸開誡。

Regarding 'Although I' downward: this anticipates speaking of the later period; if this one lifetime's reward comes to an end with nothing entrusted, he would regret it, just as in declaring extinction, the Dharma would all follow into extinction; approaching extinction he would still regret it, and hence it is called 'although'. Regarding 'immediately sent an attendant' and so forth: only from this point do they comprehend the bestowing of the sudden and gradual transformations; thus we know that what preceded this metaphorized what was before the sudden and gradual, whether great or small. Regarding 'Only the Chapter on Skillful Means' down to 'comprehending together': the meaning is that although the texts have additions and subtractions, the intent is necessarily preserved in both; since Skillful Means is for those of superior faculties, it does not need to be explained separately; since the parabolic explanation is for middling capacities, it must separate the general to produce the specific; although the application and the verses are brief and omitted, taking the parable as primary, the rest mutually subsume one another; now that they comprehend the parable, they must narrate it completely. Regarding 'Only the Chapter on Skillful Means generally admonishes and encourages', and so forth: fearing that readers will be confused, it explains this again in detail: in the text of the Chapter on Skillful Means, in the section on Śākyamuni, it only says 'setting aside the Great and bestowing the Small'; although it does not speak of the distinction between encouragement and admonishment, the intent of the words is on encouragement; hence it says 'for three times seven days I reflected on such matters', which is the trial of the Great. 'Living beings have dull faculties' means the absence of capacity. 'Such classes as these' means halting the transformation. 'Immediately went to Vārāṇasī' and so forth means bestowing the Small. Although it does not speak of admonishment, the meaning contains both approaches. 'The burning house opens encouragement to bring out admonishment': thus following the Dharma explanation, admonishment is opened from encouragement.