法華遊意 1.226

1.226

屈摩羅時，華猶未開形相未妙，喻昔來諸教未開方便門、未顯真實義，故不得喻於此經；迦摩羅時，花既將落形好欲毀，喻法花後教已開方便門、已顯真實義，亦不得喻於此經。唯分陀利處中盛時形相可愛，喻於此經正開方便門、正顯真實義，微妙第一。故華有三時，喻教有三種。故〈法師品〉云「已說今說當說中，此法花經最為第一」。

At the stage of the kumuda, the flower has not yet opened and its appearance is not yet wonderful, which symbolizes that the various former teachings had not yet opened the upāya portal and had not yet revealed the real meaning; therefore, it cannot serve as a metaphor for this sūtra. At the stage of the kamala, the flower is already about to drop and its beautiful form is about to wither, which symbolizes that the teachings after the Lotus Sūtra have already opened the upāya portal and have already revealed the real meaning; thus it also cannot serve as a metaphor for this sūtra. Only the puṇḍarīka in its flourishing prime midway through is lovely in appearance, symbolizing that this sūtra is precisely opening the upāya portal and precisely revealing the real meaning, subtle, wondrous, and foremost. Thus, the three stages of the flower symbolize the three kinds of teachings. Hence the 'Dharma Teacher' chapter says: 'Among those already preached, now being preached, and yet to be preached, this Lotus Sūtra is the foremost.'