法華義疏 5.232

5.232

「其年衰邁」者，第三句、辨年高，即是耆年長者。前明其位德重，此譬於年高，以德重年高為物所敬。佛亦如是，一、備眾德，二、壽命無窮，以具此二義為物所尊也。此據法身為譬，以法身壽不可盡。二者、借老人以譬應身，老人生途以窮餘命無幾，譬如來此身最後無復餘生。故《釋論》云「我生胎分盡，是最末後身，我以得解脫，當復度眾生」。三者、取廢化來久作譬，昔為菩薩時教化諸子，諸子違教經於劫數，菩薩廢化已久故名為老，故〈信解品〉云「自念老朽無有子息」。四者、借最後應付子財為譬故稱老年。五者、老人在世既久，多所聞見諷誦今古，以譬如來具一切智者。六者、其年衰邁，衰邁之人不久住世，譬如來非是安住三界之人。七者、行行來久，譬老人之年積也。

Regarding "he was advanced in years": this third phrase distinguishes his advanced age; that is, he is an elder of venerable years. The preceding [text] explained the gravity of his status and virtue, whereas this parables his advanced age, for one whose virtue is grave and whose age is advanced is revered by beings. The Buddha is also like this: first, he is endowed with all virtues; second, his lifespan is inexhaustible; being endowed with these two meanings, he is venerated by beings. This is spoken with reference to the dharmakāya as a parable, because the lifespan of the dharmakāya cannot be exhausted. Second, it borrows an old man to parable the response body (nirmāṇakāya): an old man's path of life is exhausted and little of his remaining life is left, parabling that this body of the Tathāgata is his last and has no further remaining lives. Therefore the Da zhidu lun says: "My share of entering the womb is exhausted; this is my most final body. Having attained liberation, I shall again deliver sentient beings." Third, it takes his having set aside teaching for a long time as a parable: formerly, when he was a bodhisattva, he taught his sons; the sons transgressed the teaching for kalpas, and because the bodhisattva has long set aside his teaching, he is called "old." Therefore the "Belief and Understanding Chapter" says: "He reflected to himself: 'I am old and decrepit, and have no sons.'" Fourth, it borrows the final stage of bequeathing his wealth to his sons as a parable, and is therefore called "advanced age." Fifth, an old man has lived in the world for a long time, has heard and seen much, and chants of past and present; this parables the Tathāgata as possessing all-knowledge. Sixth, "he was advanced in years": an aged and decrepit person does not remain long in the world, parabling that the Tathāgata is not someone who remains securely in the three realms. Seventh, his practicing of the practices has been for a long time, parabling the accumulated years of an old man.