法華義疏 2.285

2.285

「佛放一光」下，第二大段，請答。文為二：第一、覩瑞生疑故請；二、忖瑞未了故請。所以有此二者，一往見聞不了是故致請，第二意地忖量復未能解是故重請，以有斯二義故分兩請：初一、見聞不了，該通大眾；二、忖量未解，專據彌勒。以大眾未能忖量，彌勒以髣髴其相，但事猶未決，是故請也。以有二人故分兩請也。又所以開此二義者，初自下凡終于補處，覩瑞生疑及忖量未了，方知瑞為非常，表所說必大，即驚駭物情使生難遭之想，令後聞道之流望岸即信也。

From 'The Buddha emits a single ray of light' downward is the second major section: the request and answer. The text has two parts: first, requesting because doubts arose upon beholding the omens; second, requesting because deliberating upon the omens left them not yet understood. Why are there these two? Seeing and hearing in passing left it not understood, hence the request was made; second, deliberate contemplation in the mental ground still could not comprehend it, hence the request was repeated. Because of these two meanings, it is divided into two requests: The first—not understanding upon seeing and hearing—pertains generally to the great assembly; the second—not comprehending upon contemplation—rests specifically with Maitreya. Because the great assembly could not deliberate, while Maitreya had already discerned their general signs, yet the matter was still not settled, he therefore made the request. Because there are two [levels of] persons, it is divided into two requests. Furthermore, the reason for opening these two meanings is that from ordinary mortals below to the one in the stage of succession above, beholding the omens caused doubts and deliberating left them not yet understood; only then is it known that the omens are extraordinary, indicating that what will be expounded must be great, which startles the feelings of beings and causes them to generate the thought that this is rare to encounter, so that those in later times who hear the Way will have faith as soon as they see the shore.