金光明最勝王經疏 6.52

6.52

Regarding resolving objections: Question: Ruciraketu has heard the sūtra, yet previously was not given a prophecy; why is it said now that this chapter arises in order to accomplish the preceding practice? Answer: It was not the primary intention to confer a prophecy upon Ruciraketu and his two sons. As in the Lotus Sūtra with the two groups of nuns, in order to encourage the upholding of the sūtra, they needed to hear a prophecy before they could practice and study, and so a prophecy was conferred upon them. It is not that at this moment the primary intention was to confer the prophecy, because it had already been prophesied previously. Therefore that sūtra says, "I have already said previously that all śrāvakas shall attain Buddhahood." The present great assembly is also like this. They thought, "If those who uphold the sūtra attain Buddhahood, who are they?" With this doubting mind, they were not yet able to resolve to study. Therefore, to sever this [doubt], the prophecy is conferred upon Ruciraketu and the others. It is intended to cause the assembly at that time to know that they will become Buddhas, and thus will definitely be able to practice. Otherwise, the prophecy should have been conferred after the preceding "Chapter on the Eradication of Karmic Obstacles" or after the "Chapter on the Praise of the Lotus." Since they had already awakened at that time, why was no prophecy conferred? As in the assembly of the Lotus, where the Dharma was taught in three cycles, and after each cycle prophecies were conferred individually, not left until the end. Question: If so, why was a prophecy not conferred earlier? Answer: Bodhisattva Ruciraketu had already entered the eighth ground and had previously received a prophecy; in order to encourage the upholding of the sūtra, it is spoken again. Another explanation: it should have been conferred earlier, but conferring it here encompasses multiple meanings: first, conferring the prophecy on Ruciraketu and the others; second, to accomplish the preceding [teachings]. Furthermore, previously the ten thousand [gods] had not yet arrived at the assembly; this also shows that even hearing it once enables all to attain Buddhahood—how much more so could those who practice and study for a long time fail to attain Buddhahood? Therefore prophesying at this time brings multiple benefits from a single utterance, and thus there is no fault. Question: The ten thousand [gods] briefly heard it and were immediately given a prophecy; why was the great assembly present not prophesied? Answer: The faculties of those [gods] were mature, whereas these were not yet mature. Furthermore, the assembly had already heard that upholding the sūtra leads to Buddhahood; these [gods] had not yet heard it, and it was also appropriate to do so.