法華玄論 6.39

6.39

Next, separately outlining the overarching meaning of asking for carriages: Since conversion through the one vehicle above could not be accomplished, he pointed falsely outside the gate, indicating that there were three carriages, so as to entice the sons to come out. The sons all relied on the provisional to emerge from the burning house. Those with wisdom did not cling to the father's words, implicitly grasping the father's intention and knowing that the provisional exists while the real does not, and thus asked for nothing; the sons without wisdom clung to the father's words without grasping the father's intention, failing to perceive that the provisional exists while the real does not, and for this reason they asked. The Buddha used this parable to cause those who cling to the three to change accordingly, and to cause those who do not yet believe in the one vehicle to believe by relying on this. Therefore Śāriputra previously requested, 'Excellent, World-Honoured One! We pray that for the fourfold assembly you will explain its causes and conditions'; now, preaching the parable of asking is precisely preaching the causes and conditions to respond to his request.