法華玄論 9.81

9.81

答：上三周佛已略開三身，三根聲聞亦略領本迹，如釋名中辨之。又《法華》之前已明本迹，如《淨名》佛身無為無漏之說。《大品》去來無去來之文。但昔聞未悟，今因《法華》始知領解，故作此述。之如昔聞《大品》付財不悟，今因此教方復領解。又昔在華嚴座有類盲聾，今悟一乘方得淨眼，故見舍那。又化菩薩名舍那，今成菩薩云何不見？又以理言之，此等皆為權行，又是化人為欲調伏眾生、顯發密教，恐實行之流聞後長遠，乖其本情，故豫領本迹二身、逆聞壽量，故託領解密助闡揚。例如初品彌勒之疑、文殊之決，明古佛說之於前、釋迦將敷之於後，逆杜疑謗之萌、豫開一乘之旨。

Answer: In the three cycles above, the Buddha had already briefly opened the three bodies, and the śrāvakas of the three capacities had also briefly expressed understanding of the origin and traces, as differentiated in the explanation of the title. Furthermore, before the Lotus [Sūtra], the origin and traces had already been explained, as in the Vimalakīrti[-nirdeśa]'s explanation of the Buddha's body as unconditioned and uncontaminated, and the Great Prajñā[-pāramitā]'s passage on "going and coming are without going and coming." But having heard it formerly they did not awaken; now, through the Lotus [Sūtra], they first begin to understand and express it, and therefore made this narration. This is like formerly hearing the entrustment of wealth in the Great Prajñā[-pāramitā] without awakening, and only now through this teaching expressing understanding. Furthermore, formerly in the assembly of the Avataṃsaka they were like the blind and deaf; now, having awakened to the one vehicle, they have attained the pure eye, and thus see Rocana. Furthermore, the one who transforms bodhisattvas is named Rocana; now that they have become bodhisattvas, why would they not see him? Moreover, speaking in terms of principle, these [disciples] are all practitioners of skillful means, and are transformed persons who, wishing to tame sentient beings and reveal the esoteric teaching, feared that true practitioners hearing the far-reaching extent later would run contrary to their original sentiment; hence they in advance expressed understanding of the two bodies of origin and traces, anticipating hearing of the Lifespan, and thus relied on expressing understanding to secretly assist in propagating [the teaching]. For example, in the first chapter, Maitreya's doubt and Mañjuśrī's resolution explained that ancient Buddhas expounded it before and Śākyamuni would unfold it thereafter, so as to preemptively block the sprouting of doubt and slander and in advance open the intent of the one vehicle.