妙法蓮華經玄贊 8.306

8.306

The Commentary says: Below is the explanation of the Dharma-teachers who properly practice the six kinds [of practice]. There are two parts: first, explaining that the Dharma-teachers who properly practice the six kinds [of practice] come here through their vows of compassion; second, below 'If after my extinction one can secretly expound the Lotus Sūtra for even one person,' explaining that the Dharma-teachers of the six kinds are worthy of reverence and worthy of veneration. The first part also has two: first, explaining the Dharma-practice regarding a single verse; second, below 'how much more so if one is able to fully accept and uphold,' explaining the practice regarding much Dharma. The first part also has two: first, stating that those who practice the six practices have fulfilled their vows of compassion in the presence of the buddhas and are born into this human world; second, below 'If someone should ask what kind of sentient beings,' revealing that this is an excellent cause for becoming a buddha in a future life. The first part also has two: first, explaining the six kinds of Dharma-teachers; second, explaining their coming to take birth through vows of compassion. This is the first. The six Dharma-teachers are: first, accepting and upholding; second, reading; third, reciting; fourth, explaining; fifth, copying; sixth, making offerings. This explains that the first five Dharma-teachers engage in practice with respect to a single verse of the sūtra, while the last Dharma-teacher engages in the practice of making offerings, making offerings both to a single verse of the sūtra and to an entire scroll. Below 'various kinds' refers to the offering of material wealth. From respectfully gazing upon [the sūtra] as upon a buddha down to joining one's palms in reverence, there are thirteen kinds in total. Respecting and gazing upon it as upon a buddha is mental karma, and joining palms in reverence is bodily karma—these are two kinds of internal wealth; the previous rejoicing in accord is vocal karma, and the remainder are external wealth. The ten Dharma-practices are: copying, making offerings, giving to others, listening, opening and reading, accepting and upholding, properly expounding, chanting/reciting, contemplating, and cultivating. Here, the text adduces those easy to practice and mentions six kinds for now. As for the other four kinds—giving to others, listening, contemplating, and cultivating—one should indeed practice all of them, but because they are difficult, they are not mentioned here. The sūtra scroll is mentioned in connection with making offerings, while the other five are mentioned in connection with a single verse, because they mutually reflect and illuminate each other, because of the distinction between light and heavy, and because of the difference between easy and difficult.