法華義疏 3.276

3.276

適緣不同，可得兩經互現，而今明眾起去者，欲證佛語不虛。上既言皆當驚疑，及增上慢人將墜於大坑，故今明五千之徒則其人也。二者、欲增住眾敬心，明預聞之徒殖因已久宜應欣慶。又罪重之人不堪聞法，則是嘆法深妙。然此眾可具二義：一者、或是實行之人；二者、是化眾，如《涅槃》現童子及金剛神也。

The affinities suited to them differ, so the two sūtras can manifest differently. Now, explaining that the assembly arose and left is intended to verify that the Buddha's words are not false. Above, having already said that all would be astonished and doubtful, and that the arrogant would fall into a great pit, he now shows that the group of five thousand are precisely those people. Second, it is to increase the reverence of the assembly that stayed, making clear that those who were admitted to hear had planted causes long ago and should appropriately rejoice. Furthermore, that people with heavy sins are unfit to hear the Dharma serves to praise the profundity and wonder of the Dharma. However, this assembly may have two aspects: first, they may have been people of actual practice; second, they were a conjured assembly, like the boy and the Vajra deity manifested in the Nirvāṇa Sūtra.