妙法蓮華經玄贊 7.112

7.112

Commentary: Within this chapter, the main text is divided into three parts: first, praising and ratifying; next, the statement beginning with 'Kāśyapa, you should know'; and finally, the two verses at the end of the chapter that conclude by establishing the explanation of the real as the gradual approach to bestowing prophecies. This is the first part. First he praises and ratifies, and then he further marvels. Because the words accord with principle, he says 'Excellent!'; because the meaning tallies with reality, he ratifies it. To reveal that what they said had not yet exhausted his virtues, he further sighs in admiration that the Buddha is like the elder, using what is small to illustrate what is great. You are like the destitute son whose noble virtues are slight; he also permits this similarity, and thus praises and also ratifies it. 'Truly' (cheng) means to believe and to respect: believing that it is as stated, and respecting that it is spoken as it is. The Buddha's virtues are difficult to conceive; speaking of them, they cannot be exhausted.