法華玄論 7.104

7.104

答：具二義也。一者實記，以佛見其積行已久，成佛不奢，故以速記；照其積行未久，成佛猶奢，故與遲記。二者權記，見此眾生聞佛道長遠、久受懃苦，生退沒心，為授速記，聞速記故，精進勇猛修行趣佛。如人知去家不遠，力步而進也。二者有人聞速記則謂佛道易得，便起輕心生於懈怠，為此人故與其遲記，令貴佛道使懃精進。

Answer: They possess both meanings. First, real prophecies: because the Buddha sees that their accumulated practice has been long and their becoming a Buddha will not be delayed, he therefore gives a fast prophecy; illuminating that their accumulated practice has not been long and their becoming a Buddha is still far off, he therefore gives a slow prophecy. Second, provisional prophecies: seeing that these sentient beings, hearing that the Buddha path is long and distant and that one endures diligent suffering for a long time, give rise to a mind of regression and drowning, he bestows a fast prophecy for them; because they hear the fast prophecy, they cultivate vigor and courage, proceeding toward the Buddha—just like a person who, knowing that home is not far away, presses forward with forceful steps. Second, there are people who, hearing a fast prophecy, consider the Buddha path easy to attain, whereupon they give rise to a dismissive mind and generate negligence; for the sake of these people, he gives them a slow prophecy, causing them to value the Buddha path and making them diligent and vigorous.