法華義疏 12.3

12.3

There are two chapters on propagating the sūtra through ascetic practices, and this is the second. Above, it explained the benefits obtained from hearing the sūtra and making offerings with body, life, and wealth to repay kindness; now, it explains manifesting emanated forms throughout the six realms to propagate and communicate the ekayāna. The former was the activity of merit, whereas this explains the activity of wisdom. The former was mostly practice for oneself, whereas this mostly explains the practice of converting others externally. Furthermore, above it explained propagating the path and benefiting beings through former deeds of the past, whereas now it explains the Great Being's present virtues, communicating the Dharma and benefiting conditions. Moreover, the subsequent chapters mostly follow the sequence of faculties and conditions, and do not necessarily arise based on doctrine. Regarding 'Gadgadasvara' (Wonderful Sound): in the past this bodhisattva made offerings to the Buddha with a hundred thousand kinds of musical entertainment, thereby attaining a wondrous voice, from which he was named. The older sūtra translation called him 'Bodhisattva Siṃhanāda' (Lion's Roar). Now both sounds may be reconciled: he makes the lion's roar with a wonderful sound. Furthermore, sentient beings take joy in hearing it, hence it is called 'wonderful sound'; the sound can reveal the principle and subdue beings, hence it is called 'lion's roar'.