法華玄論 5.29

5.29

Answer: Five cities. The "Belief and Understanding Chapter" has four cities, and the "Conjured City Chapter" has one city. As for the four cities in the "Belief and Understanding Chapter": first, "stopping midway in a city" is a parable for descending in response to become a buddha in a particular direction; becoming a buddha is the city. Second, "fleeing and running away from me in a certain city" is a parable for turning one's back on the conversion of the Mahāyāna; the great conversion is the city. Third, "in the past, being in his native city, feeling grief and searching" is a parable for the Buddha on the ground of the dharmakāya seeking without success for the great spiritual capacity of sentient beings; the Buddha's dharmakāya is the city. Fourth, "then the impoverished son arrived at the city where his father dwelt" means that the great spiritual capacity has already been activated; the Mahāyāna principle and teaching are termed the city. Fifth, in the "Conjured City Chapter" it says, "conjuring a city", which is where [followers of] the two vehicles can rest outside the three realms; it is compared to a city.