妙法蓮華經玄贊 4.44

4.44

The Eulogy says: In this third section, revealing this true mark and initiating that gate of expedients, there are two parts: above has already been explained the receiving and conferring of the two prophecies; the second section below refutes four kinds of doubts, which is the fifth section, the division on severing doubts, within the fivefold division of the Treatise. The four kinds of doubts spoken of in the Treatise are: first, at what time is it taught; second, how does one know about excessive pride; third, how are they capable of hearing it; fourth, how does it not become false speech? This refutes the first doubt. The Treatise states: 'In what kind of time do all the buddhas, the tathāgatas, initiate the teaching of the Dharma by expedient means?' It means: at what time does the Buddha initially teach the provisional two vehicles and later elucidate the real Single Vehicle? The reply below has two parts: first, designating the emergence during the era of the five defilements; second, clarifying the reasons. This is the first.