法華義疏 2.11

2.11

From 'He expounded the Mahāyāna sūtra' onward is, second, the preface of expounding the sūtra. This section appears with two meanings: First, looking back to what precedes, it is said to possess three matters: 'At that time the World-Honoured One' is the teaching master; from 'the four assemblies' onward explains the recipients of the teaching; 'expounding the Innumerable Meanings Sūtra' refers to the gateway of teaching. The master of the teaching is like a good physician; the recipients of the teaching are compared to the sick; and the gateway of teaching is likened to good medicine. If these three matters are complete, then birth and death have an end; if these three are not complete, then the cyclical flow is boundless. As it is said in the Catuḥśataka: 'Because the true Dharma, as well as the speaker and the listener, are difficult to obtain, thus birth and death are neither bounded nor boundless.' Furthermore, the preceding explanation of the offerings of the three karmas generates merit for living beings; now, expounding the Mahāyāna sūtra generates their wisdom. When merit and wisdom are both complete, the Buddha Path can be accomplished. Second, looking forward, it is the second among the six prefaces, named the preface of expounding the sūtra. Because of expounding the Innumerable Meanings Sūtra, he was subsequently able to expound the Lotus Sūtra; therefore, expounding the sūtra is named the preface. 'For the sake of all the bodhisattvas' clarifies the persons for whom the teaching was intended.