法華義疏 6.31

6.31

'Thickly spread with cushions' is the second part, clarifying the interior adornments of the carriage, symbolizing internal virtues. Soft cushions serve as bedding for the carriage and can ease the body, symbolizing that pliable meditative concentration can bring peace to the person. Because concentration has eight levels, it says 'thickly spread'. Furthermore, because of the hundreds of thousands of samādhis, it says 'thickly'. As for cushions, in foreign lands they are fine silk called rolled embroidery; the rich and noble spread them doubly, symbolizing that samādhis are not one. 'Placing a red pillow': some say that the two crossbeams at the front and back of a carriage are called carriage pillows, and relying on these two pillows, four posts are erected and side panels are installed. Faith is the foundation of myriad goods, and precepts are the basis of myriad virtues; the virtues and practices of the Mahāyāna still rely on these two dharmas, just like the two pillows of a carriage. I now say that these are not carriage pillows. How is this known? Once the bedding has been spread, only then is a pillow placed; this is a pillow for reclining, not a carriage pillow. Furthermore, the verse below clarifies: 'On top of the mattresses white woolen cloth was spread', using woolen cloth in place of the pillow; thus we know it is a pillow to support the head.