法華義疏 6.153

6.153

前明舍形謂三界果報，次明惡鬼毒虫謂於三界中起愛見煩惱，以有煩惱故感苦報，但感後苦有二因緣：一起煩惱，二遠離善師，即佛去世也。起惑是感苦之因，故前明之。佛告是感苦之緣，故後說之。是以經文前明煩惱、後辨佛去世也。佛應生三界，三界屬佛，以佛能化三界故屬佛，不屬九十六師故云一人。「其人近出」者，上明應生，今示應滅，轉現他方故云近出也。「未久之間」者，如來示現生滅俄頃之時，故云未久。又未久尚已起惑招苦，況去聖久耶？「於後舍宅欻然火起」者，第二正明火起。就文為三：第一、明欲界火起；二、明色界火起；三、明無色界火起。故下文云「三界無安猶如火宅」，常有生老病死憂患，如是等火熾燃不息也。「於後」者，謂佛滅後也。又是眾生背化以後，此明火起時也。「欻然」者，從顛倒妄想而生，示火起無根本也。「火起」者，正明起惑招苦也。四生眾生同有生老病死，故云四面也。「一時」者，雖復同有，猶恐未必一時，故復說一時也。「其炎俱熾」者，如來滅後眾生背化同起染累，俱受重苦也。「棟梁椽柱」者，出被燒之身心也。「爆聲」者，謂老苦，「震裂」者，謂病苦也。「摧折崩倒」者，謂神逝形離，即死苦。「諸鬼神等揚聲大叫」者，此序遭苦人，諸鬼神則出家外道等起見流。《十地論》云「外道見老病死生大厭心」，如鬼神見火揚聲大叫。「鵰鷲諸鳥」下，此一行序愛見眾生同不知出苦處。上句明在家起愛眾生見老病死亦生怖畏不知出處也。次句序出家外道亦不知出處也。

Previously, explaining the form of the house referred to the retributions of the three realms; next, explaining the evil ghosts and venomous insects referred to giving rise to the afflictions of craving and views within the three realms. Because there are afflictions, they induce painful retributions. However, inducing future suffering has two causes and conditions: first, giving rise to afflictions; second, being separated from a good teacher—that is, the Buddha passing away. Giving rise to delusion is the cause that induces suffering, so it was explained previously. The Buddha's passing is the condition that induces suffering, so it is spoken of later. Therefore the sūtra text first explains the afflictions, and later clarifies the Buddha's passing away. The Buddha responds by being born in the three realms; the three realms belong to the Buddha. Because the Buddha can transform the three realms, they belong to the Buddha and do not belong to the ninety-six teachers; thus it says "one person." As for "That person had recently gone out," the above explained responsive birth, and now it indicates responsive extinction, appearing in another direction; hence it says "recently gone out." As for "In a short while," the Tathāgata manifests birth and extinction for only a brief moment, so it says "a short while." Moreover, even in a short while they already give rise to delusion and invite suffering, how much more so when separated from the sage for long? As for "Afterward, in the house, a fire suddenly broke out," second, it directly explains the fire starting. In terms of the text, there are three parts: first, explaining the fire starting in the desire realm; second, explaining the fire starting in the form realm; third, explaining the fire starting in the formless realm. Thus the text below says: "There is no safety in the three realms, just like a burning house," constantly having birth, old age, sickness, death, worry, and grief; such fires blaze incessantly. "Afterward" refers to after the Buddha's extinction. It also means after sentient beings have turned their backs on the teaching; this clarifies the time when the fire starts. "Suddenly" means it arises from inverted, false thoughts, indicating that the starting of the fire has no fundamental root. "A fire broke out" directly clarifies giving rise to delusion and inviting suffering. Sentient beings of the four modes of birth all equally have birth, old age, sickness, and death; therefore it says "on all four sides." As for "At once," although all equally have them, it is feared that they might not necessarily occur at once, so it also says "at once." As for "Its flames blazed fiercely together," after the Tathāgata's extinction, sentient beings turn their backs on the teaching, together give rise to defilements and burdens, and together undergo severe suffering. As for "The ridgepoles, beams, rafters, and pillars," this reveals the bodies and minds that are burned. "The cracking sounds" refer to the suffering of old age; "bursting apart" refers to the suffering of sickness. "Collapsing and falling down" refers to the spirit departing and the body separating, which is the suffering of death. As for "The various ghosts and spirits shouted loudly," this recounts the persons encountering suffering; "the various ghosts and spirits" are the renunciant non-Buddhists and others who give rise to the currents of views. The Daśabhūmika Śāstra says: "When non-Buddhists see old age, sickness, and death, they give rise to great revulsion," which is like the ghosts and spirits shouting loudly upon seeing the fire. From "The eagles, vultures, and various birds" onward, this verse recounts that sentient beings of craving and views alike do not know the place of escape from suffering. The upper line explains that lay sentient beings who give rise to craving also generate fear when seeing old age, sickness, and death, not knowing the place of escape. The next line recounts that renunciant non-Buddhists also do not know the place of escape.