三彌勒經疏 1.84

1.84

問：此七寶坐何故名師子坐？答：《智度論》云「佛為人中師子，佛所坐處若床若地皆名師子坐」也。《譬喻經》云「五百師子，聞佛出世化諸眾生，我當何喰？心中懷毒，往欲害佛。佛化殊妙座，在師子頭上而坐。眾人見，名曰師子座」也。高四由旬者，表四德故。四角者，表內具四無量。四蓮華者，表外生青色蓮也。

Question: Why are these seven-treasure seats called lion thrones? Answer: The Da zhidu lun says: "The Buddha is the lion among men; wherever the Buddha sits, whether a couch or the ground, it is called a lion throne." The Avadānasūtra says: "Five hundred lions heard that the Buddha had appeared in the world to transform sentient beings and thought, 'What shall we eat?' Harboring malice in their minds, they went intending to harm the Buddha. The Buddha manifested an exquisitely marvelous seat and sat upon the heads of the lions. When the crowd saw this, they called it a lion throne." "Four yojanas high" signifies the four virtues. The "four corners" signify being endowed internally with the four immeasurables. The "four lotus flowers" signify blue lotuses emerging externally.