法華玄論 3.59

3.59

答：論主云「波若非一時一會說」，以此言推者，則前分明退者在《法華》之前，後分不退者在《法華》之後也，故兩言不相違也。又五不思議中，佛最不可思議。如《大經》云「或見佛今夜入滅，或十五日後方始問訊，或一年後方取涅槃。」《像法決疑經》云「或見今日雙樹泥洹，或見應生出家，或見為舍那處蓮華藏，或見佛身滿於虛空。」若爾者，不可定《波若》前而《法華》後、《法華》前而《波若》後，故適時而聞、隨機而見也。

Answer: The treatise master says: 'Prajñā was not spoken at one time or in one assembly.' Inferring from these words, the earlier portion clearly stating retrogression precedes the Lotus, and the later portion on non-retrogression follows the Lotus; hence the two statements do not contradict each other. Furthermore, among the five inconceivables, the Buddha is the most inconceivable. As the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra says: 'Some see the Buddha entering extinction tonight; some only begin to inquire after fifteen days; some only take nirvāṇa after one year.' The Xiangfa jueyi jing says: 'Some see nirvāṇa between the twin trees today; some see him taking birth and leaving home; some see him as Vairocana abiding in the Lotus Store; some see the Buddha's body filling empty space.' If so, one cannot determine that Prajñā is before and the Lotus after, or the Lotus before and Prajñā after; they are heard according to the time and seen in accordance with spiritual capacity.