妙法蓮華經玄贊 3.18

3.18

The Commentary says: Above praised the supreme excellence of the realized and expounded Dharma; below praises the supreme excellence of the Tathāgata as the dharma-master capable of realizing and expounding. Relying on the Treatise's citation of the sūtra, it should next say: 'Why is this? Śāriputra! Because the buddhas, the tathāgatas, have accomplished the causes for speaking with mastery. Śāriputra! The Tathāgata has accomplished various expedient means, various knowledges and visions, various mindfulnesses and contemplations, and various words and expressions.' The above is the general, and below explains the above words: 'Śāriputra! Since I attained buddhahood, in various places I have extensively expounded teachings, guiding sentient beings with countless expedient means, causing them to abandon all attachments,' and so forth. The implied meaning is: because the Tathāgata's person has perfected the causes for speaking with mastery regarding the realized principle, it is therefore now stated that the realized wisdom and the wisdom-gate are both profound. What is called the accomplishment of the causes for speaking? It refers to various expedient means, various knowledges and visions, various mindfulnesses and contemplations, and various words and expressions; among these, the first three are collectively named 'causes and conditions.' Causes and conditions are principles. 'Words and expressions' refers to similes, because words and expressions mostly speak of various similes. According to the Treatise's interpretation of the sūtra, up through 'similes' is called the general phrase, and from 'extensively expounded' downward is called the particular phrases. In glossing and explaining successively, the Treatise has three interpretations: first, the Treatise itself separately explains the first four phrases; next, the Treatise matches the subsequent phrases of the sūtra with these four phrases in two turns, and within the latter two turns, the first three meanings are clarified in one place, and the fourth meaning is clarified in another place.