妙法蓮華經玄贊 8.279

8.279

來意有三：一者上來最初一品序述因由，次有八品名為正宗。前引〈信解品〉云「今此經中唯說一乘」，此品又云「開方便門顯真實相」，即以一乘正為經宗，逗二乘者不定姓。又并授記訖後十九品名為流通，流通此經非正逗二乘退大心者，更無開權顯實正說一乘之處。雖此品及〈持品〉漸有八部比丘尼等授記，因言總記，非更說一乘進令修學而與記故，皆是流通。流通之中分之為三：初之四品讚重流通，讚法讚人可尊可重令生喜仰；次之七品學行流通，學弘此經正行、助行令無傷毀；後之八品付受流通，示相付囑、稟命行故。亦即三周說流通也。

Regarding the rationale for its occurrence, there are three explanations: First, from above, the very first chapter prefaced and recounted the causes and conditions, and next there were eight chapters designated as the main doctrinal body. Earlier, quoting the "Faith and Understanding Chapter," it says, "Now in this sūtra, only the Single Vehicle is taught"; this chapter also says, "Opening the expedient gates and revealing the true characteristic." Thus the Single Vehicle constitutes the principal theme of the sūtra, suited to those of indeterminate nature among the two vehicles. Furthermore, together with the completion of conferring prophecies, the subsequent nineteen chapters are designated as the dissemination section. Disseminating this sūtra is not specifically intended to address those of the two vehicles who have retrograded from the great aspiration; nowhere is there any further opening of the provisional to reveal the real or directly teaching the Single Vehicle. Although this chapter and the "Upholding Chapter" gradually confer prophecies upon the eight classes, the bhikṣuṇīs, and so forth, they are collective prophecies occasioned by incidental statements, not given by further expounding the Single Vehicle to urge them to cultivate and study it; hence they all belong to dissemination. Within the dissemination section, it is divided into three parts: the first four chapters are dissemination praising and venerating [the text], praising the Dharma and praising persons as venerable and weighty to generate joy and admiration; the next seven chapters are dissemination through study and practice, studying and propagating the correct and auxiliary practices of this sūtra so that there is no harm or violation; the final eight chapters are dissemination through entrustment and transmission, showing the signs of entrustment so that they receive the command and put it into practice. This also constitutes the three cycles of teaching dissemination.