法華義疏 5.295

5.295

答：三世諸佛化物之宜，要前現通然後說法，是故此經序品之內明三輪前後，初入無量義定即他心輪，如身手有力；雨華動地放光現土即神通輪，謂衣裓也；從三昧起乃至一經竟即說法輪，謂机案也。明乘權、乘實是所乘之法，譬如机也。辨身權、身實是能乘之人，喻之案也。又二段經文各有衣裓机案，初章經現通為衣裓，一乘因如机，一乘果如案；後章經亦有衣裓机案，〈多寶〉、〈涌出〉二品是現通，謂衣裓；說長壽之因如机，說長壽之果如案也。又以二事配經兩段者，初明乘權乘實譬如机案，即說法輪；後辨身權身實短長適化，謂神通輪，譬如衣裓，衣裓者衣衿也。救子之苦出父衿裓，故前以衣衿為喻也。机案者，父足所履為机，父身之所憑為案也。

Answer: It is the suitable method for the Buddhas of the three periods in converting beings that they must first manifest supernatural transformations and only then preach the Dharma. Therefore, within the Introductory Chapter of this sūtra, the sequence of the three wheels is explained: first entering the samādhi of immeasurable meanings is the wheel of reading others' minds, like the body and hands having strength; raining down flowers, moving the earth, and emitting light revealing the lands is the wheel of supernatural transformations, referring to the garment-fold; arising from samādhi and proceeding until the end of the entire sūtra is the wheel of expounding the Dharma, referring to the bench and table. Explaining the provisional and real nature of the vehicle is the Dharma that is ridden, paralleled to the bench. Distinguishing the provisional and real nature of the body is the person who rides, paralleled to the table. Furthermore, the two sections of the sūtra text each have a garment-fold and bench-table: in the first section of the sūtra, manifesting supernatural transformations is the garment-fold, the causes of the ekayāna are like the bench, and the fruits of the ekayāna are like the table; the latter section of the sūtra also has a garment-fold and bench-table: the two chapters, Prabhūtaratna and Emerging from the Earth, are the manifestation of supernatural transformations, meaning the garment-fold; preaching the causes of long lifespan is like the bench, and preaching the fruits of long lifespan is like the table. Furthermore, matching these two things to the two sections of the sūtra: first, explaining the provisional and real nature of the vehicle is like the bench and table, which is the wheel of expounding the Dharma; later, distinguishing the provisional and real nature of the body as brief or long to suit conversion is the wheel of supernatural transformations, like the garment-fold—the garment-fold is the lap or hem of the robe. Rescuing the children from suffering comes from the father's lap and hem; hence earlier the robe's hem was used as an analogy. As for the bench and table: that which the father's feet tread upon is the bench, and that upon which the father's body leans is the table.