法華義疏 2.18

2.18

今以五義證此《無量義經》是《法華》前《無量義經》：一者、處同。同在王舍城鷲山所說故。二者、眾數大同。謂萬二千聲聞、八萬菩薩故。三者、時節同。《法華》云「成道以來四十餘年說之」，《無量義經》亦云「我成道以來四十餘年未說實相法」。四者、義同。雖未彰言明開三顯一，而旨趣密開一乘也。五者、翻經之人中天竺沙門自云是法華前說，宜應用之也。

I now prove through five points that this Innumerable Meanings Sūtra is indeed the Innumerable Meanings Sūtra prior to the Lotus Sūtra: First, identity of location: because it was likewise expounded on Vulture Peak in Rājagṛha. Second, general identity of the assembly's numbers: because there were twelve thousand śrāvakas and eighty thousand bodhisattvas. Third, identity of time: the Lotus Sūtra says, 'It was expounded more than forty years after attaining the Way,' and the Innumerable Meanings Sūtra likewise says, 'For more than forty years since I attained the Way, I have not yet expounded the true-aspect Dharma.' Fourth, identity of meaning: although it does not speak explicitly of opening the three and revealing the one, its purport secretly opens the ekayāna. Fifth, the translator, the monk from Central India, himself stated that it was expounded prior to the Lotus Sūtra; it ought to be applied accordingly.