妙法蓮華經玄贊 8.284

8.284

初之四品讚重流通中，初三品讚重，後〈持品〉流通。初三品中，〈法師〉一品顯於此經若人若法俱可尊重可軌可模；〈寶塔〉一品顯法可重，說此經處塔涌聞法；〈天授〉一品雖亦明法，意明能弘經人其人可重，為重法故於其人所不悋軀命以身為床。其〈持〉一品既矚此三，讚重義廣，遂願弘通。故此四品名讚重流通。餘二流通至文當釋。此乃最初品之來意。

Within the first four chapters of dissemination praising and venerating, the first three chapters praise and venerate, and the subsequent "Upholding Chapter" is the dissemination. Among the first three chapters, the single chapter "Dharma Teacher" reveals that both the persons and the Dharma in this sūtra are worthy of veneration, and can serve as rules and models; the single chapter "Apparition of the Jeweled Stūpa" reveals that the Dharma is worthy of veneration, as the stūpa wells forth to hear the Dharma wherever this sūtra is preached; the single chapter "Devadatta", although it also clarifies the Dharma, primarily intends to clarify that the person capable of propagating the sūtra is worthy of veneration, since out of veneration for the Dharma, he did not begrudge his body or life before that person, making his body into a couch. Seeing these three, the "Upholding Chapter" finds that the meaning of praise and veneration is extensive, and thereupon vows to propagate it. Hence, these four chapters are called dissemination praising and venerating. The other two disseminations will be explained when reaching their texts. This is the rationale for the occurrence of the very first chapter.