法華玄論 5.46

5.46

Next, the general and specific are clarified. Each single cycle contains all three preachings. For example, in the doctrinal preaching, saying "like the udumbara flower" is the parabolic preaching; "in the past, under twenty billion buddhas, what I taught and transformed" is the preaching on causes and conditions in past lives. As for the three preachings within the parable: before the parabolic preaching, saying "Did I not say before that all are transformed bodhisattvas?" is the doctrinal preaching. Furthermore, explaining the thirty sons and the elder being the father—is this not having already formed affinities in past lives? The preaching on causes and conditions in past lives also possesses all three: before the "Conjured City" is doctrinal preaching, and after the "Conjured City" is parabolic preaching. Therefore we know that each individual preaching contains all three; it is merely that we make this broad classification. Furthermore, discussed according to what is predominant, three preachings are distinguished.