大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 17.89

17.89

Regarding the commentary's 'The Lotus Sūtra says that only after three seven-day periods did he expound the lesser': The sūtra states: 'When I first sat at the site of enlightenment, / observing the tree and walking in meditation, / during three seven-day periods / I contemplated such matters', and so forth. Initially he wished to expound the One, but there was no capacity for the One; next he thought of expounding the provisional, which all buddhas praised, continuing up to: 'Śāriputra, you should know: / I heard the voice of the noble lion, / deep, pure, subtle, and wondrous, / praising "Namo to all buddhas." / I again had this thought: / "I have appeared in a turbid and evil world; / just as all buddhas have spoken, / I too shall act in accordance." / Having contemplated this matter, / I immediately proceeded to Vārāṇasī. / The quiescent characteristic of all dharmas / cannot be expressed in words; / by the power of upāya, / I expounded it for the five bhikṣus. / This is called turning the wheel of the Dharma; / thereupon there was the sound of nirvāṇa', and so forth.