妙法蓮華經玄贊 8.3

8.3

Eulogy: Above, past causes were explained to bring to mind retreat from the Great [Vehicle] to adopt the Lesser; below, the present fruit is revealed to make them know to abandon the provisional to take up the real. The text is divided into three parts: first the Dharma, next the parable, and finally the combined explanation. The first section has two parts: first, clarifying the present real; later, explaining the reason for the former provisional, beginning from 'Bhikṣus, you should know.' The first part also has two aspects: first knowing that the capacity has ripened, and later preaching the Single Vehicle. This is the first. The ripening of capacity has five aspects: First, the time of nirvāṇa has arrived. The capacity of sentient beings has ripened, and fearing the Buddha's nirvāṇa, upon hearing [the teaching] they immediately have deep faith. Second, the assembly is furthermore pure. Their defilements are slight, as they have gradually separated from defilement. Formerly, the three vehicles were preached because of emergence into a turbid world where sentient beings had heavy defilements; now, having long transformed them, he has gradually led them to separate from defilements, hence it is called pure. Third, faith and understanding are firm. Realized understanding and realized faith are both firm, and cannot be obstructed or destroyed. Fourth, completely penetrating the dharma of emptiness. The dharma of emptiness has two kinds: first, emptiness of persons; second, emptiness of dharmas. Emptiness of persons is what is realized; emptiness of dharmas is what is known. Having already realized the emptiness of persons, they later hear prajñā and know the emptiness of dharmas. Fifth, deeply entered into meditative stabilization. Because they are able to enter and emerge from the four dhyānas and nine attainments. This is spoken with reference to śrāvakas and others who, having retreated, again generate the great mind. Only when these five are complete can the two provisionals be united and brought back to the single reality; otherwise it is not so.