法華義疏 6.48

6.48

From "Śāriputra" onward is the sixth parable, explaining that it is not false. The reason this parable appears is that it arises from the preceding passage on promising and bestowing. The assembly harbored doubts, saying: "At first he promised three, but in the end he did not give them; this seems like empty speech. At the beginning he did not promise one, but later he bestowed one; this again is like false speech." Now, wishing to reconcile the promise and bestowal and sever their doubts, this passage therefore comes forth. Within the text there are three parts: first, questioning in turn; second, presenting the reply; third, praising. Questioning in turn means that the claim that the Buddha was deceitful originally came from the śrāvakas; now, making him personally declare that it is not false ensures that the fact of its not being false is verified. Therefore the Da zhidu lun says: "The Buddha questioned Śāriputra in turn, causing Śāriputra to state with his own mouth that he was inferior to the bodhisattvas; thereby he ascertained the distinction between the superiority and inferiority of the Mahāyāna and Hīnayāna." Here it is also like this. Furthermore, since Śāriputra had already comprehended, he knew the three and the one; although the traces diverge, their purport accords, and thus through him he reconciled them and put an end to the doubts of the assembly. Regarding "Śāriputra said, 'No'": this is the second part, presenting the reply. "No" means it is not false.