法華玄論 9.77

9.77

There are others who say: "The elder sitting upon the lion seat symbolizes the origin of the Lifespan, and putting on coarse, dirty clothes symbolizes manifesting the traces from the origin." We assess this: Although there is a new interpretation, it remains hindered by the former difficulty. Since the old [interpretation] held that stopping in a city was manifesting traces to become a Buddha, why would sitting upon the lion seat now symbolize the origin of the Lifespan? Please let us examine and differentiate this further. Failing to find the son while not abandoning the family estate—not abandoning the family estate is precisely transforming beings with the trace body, not the original ground guiding conditions. Furthermore, this parable concerns attaining sagehood in the Sahā realm; one cannot point afar to other regions. Moreover, what is explained now is manifesting a response in the present life; it is not becoming a Buddha in a past life. Considering back and forth, ultimately what body is it? What is explained now comprises three bodies in all: first, the dharmakāya; second, the Rocana body; third, the Śākyamuni body. The father previously seeking the son and failing to find him symbolizes the dharmakāya seeking beings of great capacity and failing to find them. Stopping in a city without abandoning the family estate symbolizes the Rocana body when first attaining the Way: although the great capacity of the two vehicles was not yet mature, the conditions of the bodhisattva path were already complete; therefore, upon first ascending to right awakening, he transformed those of lofty practice, as detailed in the text. From the relatives attending and guarding [him] down to arraying the precious goods, these all refer to the Avataṃsaka expounding the Great Dharma for the bodhisattvas. Taking off the precious imperial garments and putting on dirty, coarse clothes means concealing the origin of Rocana and displaying the trace of Śākyamuni to transform those of the two vehicles. These three bodies are in sequence: first the dharmakāya is explained; the dharmakāya next manifests the trace of Rocana to transform those of great practice; Rocana next displays the transformation of Śākyamuni to guide those of the two vehicles.