法華義疏 10.173

10.173

良醫者略明三種：一、外道五通；二、聲聞緣覺；三者、諸佛菩薩。外道但能除眾生三空已還諸煩惱病名為下醫；二乘能治三界之病稱為中醫；諸佛菩薩能遍治三界內外諸病名為上醫，故云良醫也。又外道除病必當還發，故稱為下；二乘治病或發不發故稱為中；諸佛治病畢竟不發故名為上。又凡夫二乘治眾生病凡有四句：一、損不增，二、增不損，三、亦增亦損，四、不增不損，故不名良醫。諸佛治病唯有一句，但損不增，故名良醫也。《阿含經》云「良醫有四德：一、善知病，謂冷熱等；二、知病所起；三、病生已善知治方；四、已差之病令更不生」。佛亦具此四種之德，如良醫也。《法華論》云「為不集功德人說良醫譬喻，此人不曾修第一乘善根，聞說第一乘，心中不願以為第一，為對治此故說良醫譬」。《論》又云「此人根未熟，為令熟故示涅槃，是故如來說此譬喻」。《論》又云「欲示涅槃無上故說醫師譬喻」。「智慧聰達」，此歎德釋良醫義。在心為智慧，在耳為聰，在目為明；智慧譬一切種智，聰譬六通，達譬五眼。「明練方藥善治眾病」者，方謂教，藥譬於理，識教知理稱為明練，善治眾病謂知病源應病授藥也。

Regarding the "skilled physician," briefly three kinds are explained: first, non-Buddhists with the five supernatural powers; second, śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas; third, the Buddhas and bodhisattvas. Non-Buddhists can only eliminate the various afflictive illnesses of sentient beings below the three voids; they are called inferior physicians. The two vehicles can cure the illnesses of the three realms; they are called middling physicians. Buddhas and bodhisattvas can universally cure all illnesses inside and outside the three realms; they are called superior physicians, and hence are called "skilled physicians." Furthermore, when non-Buddhists remove an illness it will inevitably recur, so they are called inferior; when the two vehicles treat an illness it may or may not recur, so they are called middling; when the Buddhas treat an illness it ultimately never recurs, so they are called superior. Furthermore, when ordinary persons and the two vehicles treat the illnesses of sentient beings, there are four alternatives: first, decreasing [illness] without increasing [defilement]; second, increasing without decreasing; third, both increasing and decreasing; fourth, neither increasing nor decreasing; hence they are not called skilled physicians. When the Buddhas treat illness, there is only one alternative: only decreasing without increasing; hence they are called skilled physicians. The Āgama Sūtras say, "A skilled physician has four virtues: first, he thoroughly knows illnesses, namely cold, heat, and so forth; second, he knows the origins of illness; third, when an illness has arisen, he thoroughly knows the methods of cure; fourth, an illness already cured he causes never to arise again." The Buddha also possesses these four virtues, like a skilled physician. The Fahua lun says, "For those who have not accumulated merit, the parable of the skilled physician is spoken; this person has never cultivated the good roots of the Supreme Vehicle, and upon hearing the Supreme Vehicle spoken, does not in his heart wish to take it as supreme; to counter this, the parable of the skilled physician is spoken." The Treatise also says, "Because this person's faculties are not yet mature, in order to ripen them he manifests nirvāṇa; therefore the Tathāgata speaks this parable." The Treatise also says, "Wishing to show that nirvāṇa is unsurpassed, he speaks the parable of the physician." "Wise, perceptive, and clear-sighted": this praises his virtues to explain the meaning of a skilled physician. In the mind it is wisdom; in the ear it is perceptiveness; in the eye it is clarity. Wisdom is compared to the knowledge of all aspects (sarvākārajñatā); perceptiveness is compared to the six supernatural powers; clarity is compared to the five eyes. "Well-versed in medicinal prescriptions, skilled in curing all diseases": "prescriptions" refers to the teachings; "medicines" is a metaphor for the principle. Recognizing the teachings and knowing the principle is called "well-versed." "Skilled in curing all diseases" means knowing the origin of the disease and administering the medicine in accord with the disease.