法華義疏 8.5

8.5

Next, explaining the arising of this chapter according to the intention of confirming [the disciples' understanding]: The "Parable Chapter" directly sets forth the exposition of the teaching; the "Belief and Understanding Chapter" explains the intermediate faculties' grasping and comprehension; and now this chapter is the Tathāgata's confirmation. This confirmation is stated in terms of a parable. All grasses and trees have two meanings: first, they do not know their sameness; second, they do not know their difference. Not knowing their sameness means not knowing that they are produced from one soil and moistened by one rain. Not knowing their difference means not knowing that grasses and trees inherently have distinctions among themselves. If there were a miraculous plant that could know both sameness and difference, it would be extraordinary. Those who receive the teaching also have two delusions: first, not knowing the sameness of the principle; second, not knowing the difference among conditions. Yet Kāśyapa alone could know the sameness of the principle and know the difference of the teachings, and thus he is called extraordinary. Therefore, the subsequent text states: 'Just as those grasses and trees do not themselves know their superior, middling, and inferior natures, so are you, Kāśyapa, exceedingly rare, able to know the Tathāgata’s preaching of the Dharma in accordance with what is fitting, and able to believe and receive it.' Hence, the parable of the clouds, rain, and medicinal herbs is introduced to confirm Kāśyapa's comprehension. From the perspective of Kāśyapa, in the 'Belief and Understanding Chapter' the ten parables and ten benevolences still fell short of exhausting the praise of the Buddha's virtues; therefore, the Buddha further expounded the parable of the clouds, rain, grasses, and trees to broadly praise the Tathāgata's boundless great function of universally benefiting sentient beings. Because his praise could not be exhausted, this chapter was spoken. If explained as elucidating the 'Belief and Understanding Chapter': above, the ten parables and ten benevolences were set forth; when the King of all dharmas, unconditioned and free of outflows, was able to humble himself for the sake of the base and endure such deeds, the assembly at that time thought that the Buddha, from the beginning of his past practices down to the end of the present assembly, had undergone tortuous, difficult, arduous, and painstaking labor. Therefore, it is now clarified that although the Tathāgata accommodated and complied, he harbored no contorted mind. Thus the Huayan [Sūtra] says: 'Having no mind regarding this or that, yet able to respond to everything.' Hence, the parable of the mindless clouds and rain is adduced to elucidate the 'Belief and Understanding Chapter.'