妙法蓮華經玄贊 8.84

8.84

Regarding the purpose, there are four: First, those of superior faculties receive a prophecy upon hearing the Dharma once; those of middling faculties are given a prophecy upon hearing the Dharma twice; now, those of inferior faculties, having heard the Dharma through three rounds, are able to awaken and understand, and are therefore given a prophecy—hence this chapter comes next. Second, the Treatise says: 'In order to eliminate the seven kinds of arrogance among sentient beings of the nature possessing the seven kinds of afflictions, for the fifth, the person without concentration who, regarding an inferior mind, gives rise to false understanding and develops arrogance, the parable of the tied jewel is spoken for them. That is to say, their distracted mind actually lacks concentration; although in the past they had the wholesome roots of the Great Vehicle, they are not consciously aware of it, and they do not seek the Great Vehicle, giving rise to false understanding regarding an inferior mind and taking it to be the foremost vehicle. To remedy this, the parable of the tied jewel is spoken.' Therefore the Treatise also says: 'As for the fifth person, it reveals their past wholesome roots, causing them to remember the teaching and enter samādhi. These are those still in training and ordinary beings who have not attained a concentrated mind, grasping at the path of the Two Vehicles as ultimate, unaware of their past Great Vehicle wholesome roots. Now they are made to enter concentration and remember their Great Vehicle wholesome roots of that time, just like one lying drunk asleep with a precious jewel secretly tied [in his garment]. Hence this chapter comes next.' Third, among the ten unsurpassables, the fourth is the unsurpassable causing understanding, which expounds the parable of the tied jewel. That is, expounding past conditions to give rise to awakening and understanding, knowing that one possesses the wondrous treasure of Great Vehicle wholesome roots; hence this chapter comes next. This meaning is supplemental. Fourth, the Treatise explains that conferring prophecies is manifested in six aspects: 1. Individual prophecies, which are Śāriputra and the four great śrāvakas; 2. Collective prophecies, such as Pūrṇa and the others, five hundred and twelve hundred, all sharing one identical name not known to the assembly, receiving prophecies simultaneously; hence this chapter comes next. However, while Maitrāyaṇīputra is named Dharmaprabhāsa, the rest are named Prabhāsa; because the meaning of 'prabhāsa' is the same and most have the identical name, it is called a collective prophecy.