法華玄論 7.19

7.19

Fourth is explaining the three periods of time. Among the eight parables, the initial losing of father and son concerns events of the past period. From seeing that their great spiritual capacity was about to arise, that in one lifetime they should awaken, and that the Lotus [Sūtra] would predict their buddhahood—starting with suddenly stopping at a city and ending with the eighth parable—these are all events of the present period.