法華玄論 5.50

5.50

答：大判三說耳，曲論說義即多。初三周佛自說，次三根人領解復有三說，合六說也。佛三周說，三長行、三偈頌為六說，領解亦爾，略而言之有十二說也。就佛初周說中，長行明五佛教，後偈又頌五佛，合成十說也。第二周長行譬說及合譬二，說偈亦然，復成四說。第三周有長行與偈為二說，各有法譬為四說，合前為十八說也。若足前略開三顯一，各有長行與偈，成二十說也。上根人領解長行與偈為二說，中根人長行與偈復二說，各有法譬為四說，足前為六說。下根領解長行與偈復二說，各有法譬為四說，合十說。師與弟子合明開三顯一之義，略明三十說也。其中說義不止於此也。

Answer: Broadly distinguished, there are only three teachings; but if discussed in detail, the meanings of the teachings are numerous. First, there are three rounds taught by the Buddha himself; next, there are three teachings of receptive understanding by persons of the three capacities, making six teachings in total. In the Buddha's three rounds of teaching, the three prose sections and three verse sections make six teachings, and the receptive understandings are also like this, so briefly speaking there are twelve teachings. Within the Buddha's first round of teaching, the prose explains the teachings of the five buddhas, and the subsequent verse also praises the five buddhas, together making ten teachings. In the second round, the prose parable teaching and the joining of the parable make two, and the verses are also like this, again making four teachings. In the third round, having prose and verse makes two teachings, each possessing doctrine and parable, making four teachings, which added to the preceding makes eighteen teachings. If we add the preceding brief opening of the three and revealing of the one, which each have prose and verse, that makes twenty teachings. The receptive understanding of the person of superior capacity has prose and verse, making two teachings; the person of middling capacity has prose and verse, again two teachings, each having doctrine and parable, making four teachings, which added to the preceding makes six teachings. The person of inferior capacity's receptive understanding has prose and verse, again two teachings, each having doctrine and parable, making four teachings, totaling ten teachings. Master and disciples together explain the meaning of opening the three and revealing the one, briefly setting forth thirty teachings. Within this, the meanings taught are not limited to this.