妙法蓮華經玄贊 1.35

1.35

Sixth, explaining the root text of the sūtra: Master Guzun says, 'The twenty-eight chapters are divided into two textual divisions: the first chapter explains the background from which the Tathāgata initiates conversion, and the remaining twenty-seven chapters distinguish his primary conversion. The Introductory Chapter states its initial origin, and the primary conversion explains its benefits, because there are benefits down to the end of the sūtra.' Master Jizang says, 'The first chapter is named the introductory section; the next fifteen and a half chapters are named the main section, up to the end of the verses evaluating merit at the beginning of the Chapter on the Discrimination of Merit, because it explains the expedient vehicle, the real vehicle, the expedient body, and the real body as the main doctrine. Śāriputra's three requests clarify the expedient and real vehicle; Maitreya's three requests clarify the expedient and real body; from the second prose passage of those verses on hearing this lifespan with limitless merit of faith and understanding, down through the remaining eleven chapters, it is named the dissemination section.' Master Jing says, 'The first chapter is named the introductory section; the next nineteen chapters are named the main section; from the Divine Power Chapter downward, there are eight chapters named dissemination.' Although these divisions exist, they do not explain their rationale. Now we offer two explanations: The first chapter is named the introductory section; the next eight chapters are named the main section, properly speaking the Single Vehicle and conferring prophecy on the three capacities, the fundamental purpose having already attained benefit, because it converts those of the two vehicles to emerge from the turbid water. Later in this sūtra it says: 'Now in this sūtra only the Single Vehicle is spoken; though formerly before the bodhisattvas I disparaged the śrāvakas who delight in lesser dharmas, yet the Buddha truly taught and transformed them by means of the Great Vehicle.' Moreover, in the Devadatta Chapter, 'Prajñākūṭa Bodhisattva said to Prabhūtaratna Buddha: We may return to our original land,' so one knows that only when the matter was finished did he begin asking to return, clearly showing that where the Single Vehicle is spoken is precisely the main doctrine of the sūtra. If wherever one does not speak of the Single Vehicle but simply attains benefit were all the main section, then in the Samantabhadra Chapter immeasurable bodhisattvas attain dhāraṇī, and bodhisattvas as numerous as the dust motes of a trichiliocosm practice the path of Samantabhadra, which is also attaining benefit without speaking of the Single Vehicle, so it should all be the main section. If so, then Master Guzun would be the guide! Furthermore, since the matter was not yet finished, why would Prajñākūṭa ask to return midway? Or, together with half of the Dharma Master Chapter, eight and a half chapters constitute the main section, because at the beginning of the Dharma Master Chapter, prophecy of future bodhi is conferred on the remaining ordinary beings and sages present in the assembly who see, hear, and rejoice in accord. Although the Chapter on Upholding confers prophecy on the bhikṣuṇīs present in the assembly, the Buddha gives them prophecy only because they requested to uphold the sūtra, and he still said that he had already generally conferred prophecy on them before, and no longer speaks of the Single Vehicle, so it is not the main section. The remaining nineteen chapters are collectively named dissemination, because they praise, confirm, receive the mandate, and entrust [it] to cause it to be practiced. Or, the initial introductory section is as before without difference; from the Expedient Means Chapter down to the Chapter on Upholding, twelve chapters in all, clarify the sphere of the Single Vehicle; the Chapter of Peaceful Practices and the Chapter of Welling Forth from the Earth, these two chapters, clarify the practice of the Single Vehicle; from the Span of Life of the Tathāgata Chapter down to the Sadāparibhūta Chapter, these five chapters in all, speak of the fruit of the Single Vehicle. Speaking of the sphere causes them to know the expedient and real of the vehicle, encouraging that they should abandon the expedient and grasp the real, and the śrāvakas, awakening to this, thereupon attain prophecy; speaking of practice causes them to know the right and wrong of the cause, encouraging that they should learn the right and eliminate the wrong, and practitioners, because of this, well forth from the earth; speaking of the fruit causes them to know the true and transformation of the body, and the fruit and cause of realization, encouraging them to recognize the transformation and seek realization of the true, gradually attaining the superior virtues of both stages of cause and fruit, and bodhisattvas, knowing this, thereupon realize the Way, fully displaying the superior virtues accomplished by fruit and cause. From the Divine Power Chapter downward, all are named dissemination, revealing the signs and entrusting, because they receive the mandate and practice; the reasons for these will all be explained below.