妙法蓮華經玄贊 6.375

6.375

贊曰：下第三段合領。有二：初合昔不悕，後合今獲得，「今我等方知世尊於佛智慧」下是。初文有五：第一合初發心，二「世尊我等以三苦故」下合退流生死，三「迷惑無知」下合不肯修大，四「今日世尊令我思惟」下合化以二乘，五「然世尊先知我等」下合示大不悕。不合第三中還見佛。中間逢佛亦是佛子，初逢亦子，故略不說。前喻具陳世世從化，前已有故。此初文也。子義如前。初教發心實住凡位，故言似子，似聖真子。或此總相，說諸二乘似菩薩子。佛常說二乘亦是佛子，故鶖子前言「今聞法華方知真佛子」。

The commentary says: Below is the third section, matching [the parable to the Dharma] in understanding. It has two parts: first, matching the past lack of desire, and second, matching the present obtaining, which begins below from "Now we at last know that the World-Honoured One, with regard to the wisdom of the Buddha...". The first passage has five parts: first, matching the initial aspiration [for bodhi]; second, from "World-Honoured One, because of the three kinds of suffering..." downward, matching the regressive flow into birth and death; third, from "Confused and ignorant..." downward, matching the refusal to cultivate the Great [Vehicle]; fourth, from "Today the World-Honoured One causes us to contemplate..." downward, matching conversion through the two vehicles; fifth, from "Yet the World-Honoured One previously knew that we..." downward, matching the showing of the Great [Vehicle] and the lack of desire [for it]. It does not match the third part [of the parable], seeing the Buddha midway. Meeting the Buddha midway was also being a son of the Buddha, and meeting him initially was also being a son, so it is omitted. The earlier parable fully set forth following his teaching across generations; because it was already present earlier, [it is omitted here]. This is the first passage. The meaning of "son" is as explained before. When first taught to generate the mind [of bodhi], he actually dwelled in an ordinary stage; therefore he is said to be "like a son", resembling a true noble son. Or, speaking of the general characteristic, the two vehicles are said to resemble the sons of the bodhisattvas. The Buddha always said that the two vehicles are also sons of the Buddha; hence Śāriputra previously said, "Now, hearing the Lotus Sūtra, I at last know I am a true son of the Buddha."