維摩經略疏 4.9

4.9

問：佛是眾生之慈父，一切眾生皆是佛子，故《法華》云「今此三界皆是我有，其中眾生悉是吾子。」豈從夫子之所制立？答：經有二義，自有依理立名、自有順俗為目。如《法華》云「我為太子時羅睺為長子，我今成佛道受法為法子。」此即約理，世間出世間皆是父子。若順俗者，即如夫子，尋弘教門順俗無諍，而心不違實法，故依外義釋名無咎。

Question: The Buddha is the compassionate father of sentient beings, and all sentient beings are the Buddha's children; hence the Lotus Sūtra says, 'Now this triple world is entirely mine, and the sentient beings within it are all my children.' How could [the term] be established following the Master (Confucius)? Answer: The sūtras have two meanings: there is establishing names based on principle, and there is designating terms in accordance with worldly conventions. As the Lotus Sūtra says, 'When I was the crown prince, Rāhula was my eldest son; now that I have accomplished the Buddha Way and receive the Dharma, he is a Dharma-son.' This is in terms of principle: both mundane and supramundane are father and son. If in accordance with worldly conventions, it is just as the Master (Confucius said). Tracing and propagating the doctrinal gateways, one accords with worldly conventions without dispute, yet in mind does not transgress the true Dharma; hence there is no fault in explaining the name based on an external meaning.