妙法蓮華經玄贊 8.23

8.23

The Commentary says: Below is the correlated explanation. In it are two: first, correlating the past expedients; later, "if sentient beings abide in the two stages" and below correlates the present reality. The first text has three: first, correlating the initial escort away from danger; next, "if sentient beings only hear" and below correlates turning back midway; later, "the Buddha, knowing this thought" and below correlates explaining the conjured city. It does not correlate the fourth, the weary crowd all finding rest, because it wishes to clarify the two paths of the provisional and the real, and does not wish directly to clarify the matter of putting suffering to rest. This is the first. "To go forward" means heading toward nirvāṇa. "To cross over" means transcending saṃsāra.