法華文句記 9.125

9.125

「舊云」等者，先出古釋，次「今以」下十文並之，方知二部了滿同等。「云云」者，乃至應以多重並決而破古師。「與問碩異」者，先問何故？「問家隨喜能問人」，即指諸菩薩能問諸佛。「聞已信行」者，即指諸菩薩所化之人，聞菩薩說已而能信行。「我等隨喜」者，隨喜能問發起大利，隨喜菩薩所化之人。「如來述歎」，但云汝等能於如來發隨喜心，何故與上問語乖耶？「碩」者大也。「然能問」下答可見。「此亦密表壽量」者，今歎菩薩尚是古佛，密表今佛非今成也。若非今成必有遠本，求得彰灼故云「密表」。乃須委相密表之意，故注「云云」。

Regarding the passage beginning with "The ancient [commentary] says": first the ancient interpretation is brought forth; next, from "now by means of..." onwards, ten passages are cited alongside it, so that one may only then know that the two divisions are equally complete and identical. "Etc." indicates that one should further use multiple levels of comparison and adjudication to refute the ancient masters. Regarding "vastly differs from the question": first it asks, why? "The questioning party rejoices in those capable of asking" refers specifically to the bodhisattvas who are capable of asking the buddhas. "Hearing it, they practice with faith" refers to the people converted by those bodhisattvas, who, having heard what the bodhisattvas taught, are able to practice with faith. "We rejoice" means rejoicing in those capable of asking because they give rise to great benefit, and rejoicing in the people converted by the bodhisattvas. "The Tathāgata's praise and confirmation" only says: "You are able to give rise to a mind of rejoicing toward the Tathāgata." Why does this conflict with the words of the previous question? "Shuo" (碩) means great. The answer from "However, those capable of asking..." onwards is clear. Regarding "This also secretly symbolizes the Life Span": praising the bodhisattvas now as being none other than ancient buddhas secretly symbolizes that the present Buddha also did not achieve buddhahood only recently. If he did not achieve buddhahood recently, he must have a distant origin. Seeking to have this clearly illuminated is why it is called a "secret symbol." One must explain in detail the significance of this secret symbol; hence the note says "etc."