法華玄論 6.6

6.6

Answer: The Buddha himself explained this further: If he encounters another Buddha, he will be able to resolve [his doubts]. If so, the earlier and later passages do not contradict each other, and divergent explanations should not flourish. Later I saw that the Saddharmapuṇḍarīkopadeśa also does not explain the two passages as contradictory. Regarding 'except after the Buddha's extinction when no Buddha is present,' the treatise clarifies: How could the Tathāgata not become one incapable of preaching the Dharma? In order to cut off this doubt, the sūtra says: 'except after the Buddha's extinction when no Buddha is present.' The meaning of the treatise makes clear that when the Tathāgata is in the world and expounds the one vehicle, he will certainly cause the arhats to faithfully accept it; hence he does not become one incapable of preaching the Dharma. Clarifying that 'except after the Buddha's extinction when there is no longer a Buddha' means that then there are arhats who do not believe.