妙法蓮華經玄贊 9.36

9.36

The Commentary says: Below is the third section, concluding the benefits obtained from hearing the sūtra. Having faithful minds without doubt, they will possess five virtues: first, not falling into the three evil destinies; second, being born before a buddha; third, constantly hearing this sūtra; fourth, being born among humans and devas to receive joy; fifth, being born by transformation before a buddha. In general, there are eight difficulties: the three evil destinies make three; fourth, being born before or after a buddha; fifth, having incomplete faculties; sixth, holding wrong views and worldly intellectual cleverness; seventh, in a borderland, which subsumes the northern continent; eighth, the long-lived devas. The Tattvasiddhi-śāstra speaks of the four wheels crushing the eight difficulties: first, residing in a good place, meaning born in the central country, which eliminates five difficulties, namely the three evil destinies, the borderland, and the long-lived devas; second, relying on a good person, meaning meeting a buddha, which eliminates being born before or after a buddha; third, making right vows, meaning right view, which eliminates wrong views and worldly intellectual cleverness; fourth, planting good roots in the past, which eliminates having incomplete faculties. Now, saying “not falling into hell” and so forth refers to departing from the difficulty of the three wretched paths. “Being born before a buddha” eliminates being born before or after a buddha. “Constantly hearing this sūtra” eliminates wrong views and worldly intellectual cleverness. “Being born among humans and devas to receive joy” eliminates having incomplete faculties. “Born by transformation before a buddha” eliminates the borderlands, the northern continent, and the long-lived devas.