法華玄論 6.147

6.147

答：車在宅外，諸子在內，舉眼不見，故唐捐門外，不假化作也。城在逈絕道中，眾人疲極不復堪去，是以導師化作大城，眾人遙見便勸勵之，已望見城何為不去？故須化作城也。

Answer: The carriages were outside the burning house, and the sons were inside; looking up, they could not see them, so they were spoken of in vain outside the gate without needing to be conjured. The city was on a remote and perilous path, and the people were utterly exhausted and could no longer proceed; therefore, the guide conjured a great city. When the people saw it from afar, he encouraged them: 'Having already caught sight of the city, why not go forward?' Hence it was necessary to conjure a city.