法華遊意 1.183

1.183

眾經明義各有大宗，《法花》廣明一乘、略辨常義，《涅槃》廣明常住、略辨一乘。所以然者，《法花》既明道理唯一，則知唯一佛性，既明壽命無盡，即知是常，不復廣辨。但鈍根人聞《法花》一乘不悟，廣明佛性釋成一乘，廣明常義釋成壽命長遠，方得了悟。

The various sūtras each have their principal theme in clarifying meanings: the Lotus Sūtra broadly clarifies the ekayāna and briefly explains the meaning of the eternal; the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra broadly clarifies the eternal and briefly explains the ekayāna. Why is this? Since the Lotus Sūtra already clarifies that principle is only one, one knows there is only the one buddha-nature; since it already clarifies that lifespan is endless, one knows it is eternal, and it does not explain it extensively again. It is only because people of dull faculties heard the ekayāna of the Lotus Sūtra and did not awaken, that [the Buddha] extensively clarified buddha-nature to explain and establish the ekayāna, and extensively clarified the meaning of the eternal to explain and establish the longevity of lifespan, so that they could finally attain awakening.