法華玄論 6.93

6.93

答：舊云《勝鬘》是了義教，理實言之，是故無有索也。此經就教，所以有索。評曰：此義已如〈方便品〉廣釋二經同異，今更敘之。若《勝鬘》是理說、此經據教者，亦不同舊釋，明三乘人保昔教謂有究竟，是故無索；今教無三，故就佛索三耳。

Answer: The old [masters] said that the Śrīmālādevī-sūtra is an explicit teaching (nītārtha) that speaks in terms of principle and reality; therefore, there is no asking. This sūtra speaks in terms of the pedagogical teaching; therefore, there is asking. Critical appraisal: As this point was already extensively explained in the "Expedient Means" chapter regarding the commonalities and differences between the two sūtras, it is now stated again. If the Śrīmālādevī-sūtra explains in terms of principle while this sūtra is based on pedagogical teaching, this also differs from the old interpretation. It clarifies that practitioners of the three vehicles clung to the past teaching, taking it to be ultimate, and therefore did not ask; now that the present teaching reveals there are no three, they accordingly ask the Buddha for the three.