法華文句記 8.23

8.23

As for "the various faculties" and so on, the text has two explanations of the meaning: the first explanation refers to the stage of semblance [awakening]. The next explanation says, "entering the Buddha's realm", which refers to the stage of the first abode. It is fully as in the ten kinds of six faculties in the *Avataṃsaka Sūtra*. In the verses below, it says "distinguishing the real dharma": because of distinguishing, from form and mind at the beginning to the all-seed wisdom at the end, none depart from the true character; therefore it is said to be "real". As for "eighty-four thousand kalpas" down to "and so forth", one must fully clarify the meaning of the duration: how could the buddhas ever not be in concentration? It is simply because the capacities of living beings had their limit of forming affinities with the sixteen princes, so that it was for that length of time, fully as described in the subsequent text. The *Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra* translated by Dharmarakṣa says, "entering concentration for thirty myriads of kalpas"; it is unknown why the number translated by Dharmarakṣa deviates so abruptly. As for "there are three kinds of encountering": the first two can be known. Since the third simply discusses encountering the Small, the phrase "in the interim" refers naturally to those who originally formed an affinity with the Small. The third kind of person, never having heard the Great, immediately drifted in transmigration; this person took the time of first hearing the Small as their initial formation of affinity, and further in the interim practiced only the Small, and now encountering the princes they first hear the Small for the time being. Seeing the portion of śrāvakas in the teaching of Śākyamuni's lifetime who had not yet generated the aspiration, people immediately judge that they are forever extinguished without generating it; this is not knowing the Tathāgata's long and far-reaching transformation.