法華義疏 3.246

3.246

就此大章開為三段：第一、法說；第二、譬說；第三、亦法亦譬說。所以有此三說者，法為譬本故前明法說；未解法說故舉喻顯之，故次明譬說；各聞法譬猶未得解，具辨二門方乃取悟，故〈化城〉之前名為法說，〈化城〉之後稱為譬說。又示諸佛內有無礙之智、外有無方之辨，能於一義作種種說，所說雖多不出法之與譬及亦法亦譬。又眾生悟入不同故適化多種，或有樂從法說門入，或有樂從譬說門入，或有樂具從二門入。又初說生大乘聞慧，次說生於思慧，後說生於修慧。又初說上根人得悟，次說中根人得悟，後說下根人得悟。所以然者，上根人一聞則解，中根人再說方悟，下根人三說始解也。

This major section opens into three parts: first, preaching via doctrine; second, preaching via parable; third, preaching via both doctrine and parable. Why are there these three preachings? Because doctrine is the basis of parable, doctrine is explained first. Not understanding the doctrinal preaching, parables are cited to illuminate it, so next parables are preached. Hearing doctrine and parable individually, they still have not attained understanding, and only by distinguishing both approaches fully do they attain awakening; therefore, prior to the "Conjured City", it is called preaching via doctrine, and after the "Conjured City", it is called preaching via parable. Furthermore, this shows that the buddhas internally possess unimpeded wisdom and externally possess limitless eloquence, being able to provide diverse expositions on a single meaning; though what is preached is manifold, it does not go beyond doctrine and parable, and both doctrine and parable. Furthermore, because sentient beings' awakening and entering differ, adaptive teaching is manifold: some delight in entering through the approach of doctrinal preaching; some delight in entering through the approach of parabolic preaching; some delight in entering through both approaches together. Furthermore, the first preaching produces the wisdom of hearing the Mahāyāna, the next preaching produces the wisdom of reflection, and the final preaching produces the wisdom of cultivation. Furthermore, with the first preaching, people of sharp faculties attain awakening; with the next preaching, people of middling faculties attain awakening; with the final preaching, people of dull faculties attain awakening. Why is this so? People of sharp faculties understand upon hearing it once; people of middling faculties awaken only when it is preached twice; people of dull faculties understand only when it is preached three times.