法華義疏 9.145

9.145

第四、明階位門。然通而言之，十信已上皆能弘法為物作師；別而言之，依《涅槃經》，十六分中解一分義堪為物師也。舊云：流通凡有五品，開為三章：第一、三品命覓弘經之人；第二、〈持品〉受命弘經；第三、〈安樂行品〉示弘經方法。所以有此三者，一周說法既竟，必須弘通，是以歎法美人令人欣慕弘宣於法，故有第一命覓弘經人也；如來有命大眾順旨，故有第二受命弘經；但既於惡世欲弘善道必多留難，令安住四法則身心快樂乃可弘道利人，故有第三示弘經方法。初又兩：前品正命覓弘經之人，第二兩品證說。今謂不無此意，但〈法師〉一品正是流通；〈見寶塔〉已下別屬大段，後當具足說。

Fourth, the section clarifying the stages of rank. Broadly speaking, those from the ten faiths and above can all propagate the Dharma and serve as teachers to beings. Specifically speaking, according to the Nirvāṇa Sūtra, understanding the meaning of one sixteenth part qualifies one to serve as a teacher to beings. Ancient masters said: the dissemination section consists of five chapters in all, divided into three parts: first, the three chapters that charge [the assembly] to seek persons to propagate the sūtra; second, the Encouraging Upholding Chapter, receiving the charge to propagate the sūtra; third, the Peaceful Practices Chapter, showing the method of propagating the sūtra. Why are there these three? Once one cycle of preaching the Dharma is complete, it must be disseminated and propagated; therefore, praising the Dharma and extolling the persons causes people to joyfully aspire to propagate and proclaim the Dharma, hence the first, charging [the assembly] to seek persons to propagate the sūtra. The Tathāgata gives the charge and the great assembly complies with his intention, hence the second, receiving the charge to propagate the sūtra. But since wishing to propagate the good path in an evil age will certainly entail many obstacles and difficulties, causing them to dwell securely in the four dharmas makes body and mind peaceful and joyful, so that they may then propagate the path and benefit others; hence the third, showing the method of propagating the sūtra. The first part also has two: the former chapter directly charges [them] to seek persons to propagate the sūtra, while the latter two chapters verify the preaching. Now, we maintain that while this meaning is not absent, the single Dharma Master Chapter is precisely the dissemination, whereas from the Apparition of the Jeweled Stūpa downward belongs to a separate major division, as will be fully explained later.