法華玄論 6.102

6.102

答：上根人索三，佛於〈方便品〉中直為法說便悟，不須作索車譬。中根人未悟，為作索車譬便了。下根聞索車譬不悟，更待化城譬乃解。若皆作一譬，何名逗三緣耶？復何名三周說異耶？

Answer: When persons of superior faculties asked about the three, the Buddha directly gave the doctrinal explanation in the "Expedient Means" chapter and they immediately awakened; there was no need to make the parable of asking for carriages. Persons of middling faculties were not yet awakened; when he made the parable of asking for carriages for them, they understood completely. Persons of inferior faculties heard the parable of asking for carriages and did not awaken, waiting further for the parable of the conjured city to understand. If he had made only one parable for all, how could it be called responding to three conditions? And how could the preaching of the three cycles be called distinct?