法華義疏 8.261

8.261

'Completely losing joy and the thought of joy': joy means generating attachment toward an object; because the mind grasps the object, it is called the 'thought of joy'. Another explanation is that joy refers to the instruments of joy, while the thought is the pleasant sensation; because in saṃsāra there is no real joy, it is called the 'thought of joy'. From 'At that time, Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū...' onward is the second part, explaining the proximate circumstances. Because the distance to the repeated lecturing is proximate, it is called the proximate circumstances. It is also divided into four parts: first, accepting the request to preach the Dharma wheel of the Hīnayāna; second, the sixteen princes requesting the turning of the Dharma wheel of the Mahāyāna; third, accepting the request and preaching the Dharma; fourth, finishing the preaching of the sūtra and entering samādhi. The first part explains the preaching of the Hīnayāna, and the latter three delineate the preaching of the Mahāyāna. Within each of these four sections, three segments are opened, also making twelve sections of text in total.