法華玄論 4.136

4.136

答：肇師云：「惑者覩感照謂之實，見變動謂之權。」既言惑者謂之權實，則知聖心未曾權實，此正語聖心非關真諦。次別論權義。有人言：權是譬名，如稱錘名權，將此詮量諸物輕重，前之則輕、却之則重、處中則平，此譬佛智照察根緣有三乘差別。有人言：權是假義，故假三車於門外。有人言：權是權爾一時之用，故云權化城於中道。有人言：權是耳爾，謂隨宜說法名之為權也。評曰：具此四義，可合用之。如來之智實有，照緣不差，如稱詮量輕重也。如經云「我初得道時，空拳度一切。」又云「實無三車假設三車，實無有城權作化城。」故假也。三乘謂一時之說，若久後則說真實。如經云「世尊法久後，要當說真實。」故是權爾義也，必有隨機宜則宜爾之義。

Answer: Master Sengzhao said: 'The deluded, observing responsive illumination, call it real; seeing transformative actions, call it provisional.' Since it says that the deluded call them provisional and real, one knows that the sage's mind has never been provisional or real; this refers precisely to the sage's mind and does not concern the true truth. Next, separately discussing the meaning of provisional: Some say: 'Provisional' (quan) is a metaphorical name, like the weight of a steelyard balance called a poise (quan); using this to weigh the lightness and heaviness of objects, moving it forward makes it light, moving it back makes it heavy, and placing it in the middle balances it; this illustrates the Buddha's wisdom illuminating and inspecting capacities and conditions with the differences of the three vehicles. Some say: 'Provisional' means borrowed or assumed; hence borrowing three carriages outside the gate. Some say: 'Provisional' means a temporary use, hence speaking of provisionally conjuring a city along the way. Some say: 'Provisional' means adapting to the occasion, namely speaking the Dharma in accordance with what is suitable is called provisional. Evaluation: It has these four meanings, which can be applied together. The Tathāgata's wisdom truly exists and illuminates conditions without error, like a steelyard weighing lightness and heaviness. As a sūtra says: 'When I first attained the Way, with an empty fist I delivered all.' And again it says: 'Truly there are no three carriages, but three carriages are assumed; truly there is no city, but a conjured city is provisionally made.' Hence it is borrowed. The three vehicles are a temporary teaching; after a long time he then speaks the truth. As the sūtra says: 'After a long time, the World-Honoured One's Dharma must surely be spoken as the truth.' Hence it is the meaning of being temporary; it necessarily has the sense of adapting to capacity and suitability.