法華義疏 7.8

7.8

When the sūtra says they must believe, it is spoken from beginning to end. It does not say that upon the initial Dharma exposition they could immediately believe and understand. Moreover, when people of middling faculties initially heard the Dharma exposition, their humble minds had already believed, but because they had not yet understood, it became distinct only upon reaching the parable. Therefore, the present text does not contradict the "Expedient Means Chapter".