法華義疏 2.410

2.410

「佛滅度後」下，第四、妙光弘經。以昔有弘經之能，用顯今有釋疑之德。前明授記，謂未來有佛；今辨妙光，現在有師。以兩世有人可憑、有法可覺，哀情方止，故辨妙光弘經。又上明於佛有緣者聞燈明說《法華》，今於菩薩有緣者聞妙光之說。又欲辨燃燈遠緣開後壽量之義，故須明文殊弘法。

From "After the Buddha passed into extinction" below is the fourth: Varaprabha's propagation of the sūtra. Because in the past he had the ability to propagate the sūtra, this serves to reveal his present virtue of resolving doubts. The previous text clarified the conferment of prophecy, meaning that in the future there would be a Buddha; the present text distinguishes Varaprabha, meaning that in the present there was a master. Because across two lifetimes there were people to rely upon and Dharma to awaken to, their sorrowful feelings were finally stilled; hence it distinguishes Varaprabha propagating the sūtra. Furthermore, above it clarified that those who had affinities with the Buddha heard Lamp Brightness expound the Lotus; now those who have affinities with the bodhisattva hear Varaprabha's exposition. Furthermore, wishing to distinguish Dīpaṃkara's distant affinity to open up the meaning of the later Lifespan [Chapter], it must clarify Mañjuśrī's propagation of the Dharma.