法華義疏 10.157

10.157

「自從是來」下，上辨證法身已久，今明垂應久義，以證法身久謂自德滿，垂應久謂化他德圓也。「常在此娑婆世界說法教化」者，常在娑婆則應化兩身也，說法教化者二身所說教也。明釋迦久證法身，從證法身已來宜以應身得悟則示之以應身，宜以化身得悟則示之以化身，雖示二身實無所應，雖說一切教實無所說，正釋彌勒疑也。以垂應既久常在娑婆說法教化，故有千世界塵數菩薩，即是父老子少，非父少子老義也。即是釋上〈涌出品〉云「我於娑婆世界初成正覺方教化之」，彌勒聞佛上說，謂是今娑婆，是故生疑；今答之，乃明過去娑婆，故釋疑也。「亦於無量百千萬億導利眾生」者，又上釋其時長，今明其化廣也。

From "Ever since then..." downward: above, it distinguished that the realization of the dharmakāya was long ago; now it clarifies the meaning of manifesting responses for long. For realizing the dharmakāya long ago means his own virtue is full, while manifesting responses for long means his virtue of transforming others is complete. "Always in this sahā world preaching the Dharma and teaching and transforming": being always in the sahā world refers to both the responsive and transformation bodies; preaching the Dharma and teaching and transforming refers to the teachings preached by the two bodies. This clarifies that Śākyamuni realized the dharmakāya long ago; from the time he realized the dharmakāya onward, if it was suitable to attain awakening through the responsive body, he manifested the responsive body; if it was suitable to attain awakening through the transformation body, he manifested the transformation body. Although he displays the two bodies, in truth there is nothing to respond to; although he preaches all teachings, in truth there is nothing preached. This properly resolves Maitreya's doubt. Since he has manifested responses for long, always in the sahā world preaching the Dharma and teaching and transforming, there are bodhisattvas as numerous as dust motes in a thousand worlds; this constitutes the old father and young sons, not the meaning of a young father and old sons. This precisely resolves what was said above in the Emerging from the Earth Chapter: "In the sahā world I first attained correct awakening and only then taught and transformed them." When Maitreya heard the Buddha say this above, he thought it was the present sahā world, and therefore gave rise to doubt; now answering it clarifies that it was the past sahā world, hence resolving the doubt. "And also in immeasurable hundreds of thousands of ten thousands of kotis [of other lands] guided and benefited sentient beings": above it explained the length of the time; now it clarifies the breadth of the transformation.