法華義疏 8.59

8.59

「所以者何？唯有如來知」下，第二、明唯佛能知。而標所以者何者，舉佛能知釋成眾生不知也。此中明佛知四種法：初、知四法；次、知三法；次、知二法；次、知一法。知四法者，「種」謂種別也。三乘種類不同也。「相」者，相貌也。如慈悲是菩薩相，獨靜是緣覺相，從他聞法是聲聞相也。「體」者，三乘體也。道種慧是菩薩體，一切智是二乘體，如〈三慧品〉說也。「性」者，不改為義，昔三乘智體各住己分不互移改也。

From “Why is this? Only the Tathāgata knows” downward is the second, clarifying that only the Buddha is able to know. As for stating “Why is this?,” it adduces the Buddha’s ability to know to explain and establish sentient beings’ lack of knowledge. Here it clarifies that the Buddha knows four kinds of dharmas: first, he knows four dharmas; next, he knows three dharmas; next, he knows two dharmas; next, he knows one dharma. As for knowing four dharmas, “species” means varieties and distinctions: the kinds of the three vehicles are not the same. “Characteristics” means appearances and forms: for instance, compassion is the characteristic of a bodhisattva, solitary quietude is the characteristic of a pratyekabuddha, and hearing the Dharma from another is the characteristic of a śrāvaka. “Substance” means the substance of the three vehicles: the wisdom of the paths is the substance of a bodhisattva, and omniscience is the substance of the two vehicles, as explained in the “Three Wisdoms Chapter.” “Nature” takes unalterability as its meaning: the wisdom-substances of the past three vehicles each abide in their own allotment without shifting or altering into one another.