法華文句記 1.26

1.26

From 'Vasubandhu' onward, next it cites that the present commentary (*Saddharmapuṇḍarīkôpadeśa*) has seven consummations of merit, five manifestations, and so forth, to serve as examples of dividing into sections. Regarding the seven merits, the commentary says: 'The very first chapter of this Dharma-gate clarifies seven kinds of consummations of merit: first is the consummation of the preface. Second is the consummation of the assembly. Third, from preaching the Mahāyāna sūtra for the bodhisattvas onward, is the consummation of the arrival of the time when he wishes to preach; if he preached the *Sūtra of Immeasurable Meanings*, that is the arrival of the time when he wishes to preach the *Lotus Sūtra*. Fourth, from having preached this sūtra onward, is named the consummation of abiding in deportment in accord with the preached Dharma, because entering samādhi is called abiding in deportment. Fifth, from emitting the light onward, is named the consummation of relying on the cause of preaching, because by emitting light one sees the preaching in other lands. Sixth, from Maitreya's doubtful thought onward, is named the consummation of the great assembly wishing to hear the Dharma being manifest before them; because of asking, there is answering, hence it says wishing to hear. Seventh, from Mañjuśrī answering the question onward, is named the consummation of answering the question.' The commentary says: 'In the consummation of the preface, there are again two kinds: first, supreme among all Dharma-gates, namely [the words] "Thus [have I heard]" and so on.' By this we verify that the author of the commentary fully acknowledged this single work to be supreme among Dharma-gates before designating 'Thus' and so on as supreme among all Dharma-gates; 'all Dharma-gates' refers to the teachings of the entire lifetime; otherwise, how could one explain the word 'all'? Since it is the highest among the teachings of the entire lifetime, it is fully as in the text praising the teaching in the 'Medicine King Chapter'. The six consummations below each have their divisions. As for the five manifestations, the commentary also speaks of five divisions: first is the division praising the supreme wondrousness of the Dharma. Second, from 'Since I became a Buddha' onward, is the division praising the merit of the Dharma teacher. Third, from 'At that time in the assembly' onward, is the division where the assembly of the wise resolves their doubts. Fourth, from 'The Buddha told Śāriputra' onward, is the division of fixing predictions. Fifth, from 'Śāriputra, the Buddhas appear in the five defilements' onward, is the division of cutting off doubt.