法華玄論 9.154

9.154

答：具四義。一者破近明遠，故文云「一切世間天人阿修羅皆謂釋迦始成正覺。然我成佛甚大久遠。」此破近明壽遠也。二開近顯遠，明開方便門顯真實義。昔明近遠是方便，今明遠是實說，此二皆佛方便，非眾生橫執也。三者覆近開遠，如二鳥雙遊不相捨離，但昔覆遠以開近，今則覆近開遠也。四者廢近立遠，如廢三立一也。

Answer: It has all four meanings. First, refuting the recent to clarify the long past: thus the text says, "All the worldly gods, humans, and asuras believe that Śākyamuni has only recently attained true awakening. Yet it has been an extremely long time since I attained buddhahood." This refutes the recent to clarify the long duration of lifespan. Second, opening the recent to reveal the long past: clarifying that opening the gate of skillful means reveals the real meaning. Formerly clarifying the recent and the long past was skillful means; now clarifying the long past is the real explanation. Both of these are the Buddha's skillful means, not arbitrary attachments of sentient beings. Third, concealing the recent to open the long past: like two birds flying together without leaving one another, formerly he concealed the long past to open the recent, whereas now he conceals the recent to open the long past. Fourth, setting aside the recent to establish the long past: just like setting aside the three to establish the one.