法華論疏 1.214

1.214

言依止說因者，正是眾生內心。言內心者，渴仰願聞法華。雖明入定雨華動地，若無內心渴仰欲聞之心，佛不得說法華也。又上入定動地雨華是其外緣，今渴仰欲聞之心是內因，因緣具足方得說教。問：上雨華動地已令眾歡喜則是因竟，今云何更辨因耶？答：上雖生歡喜，未知欲說大法。今覩佛放光現東方諸佛土事，必知應為我說於大法，是故渴仰欲聞，名為因義成就也。

Regarding "the cause for the exposition based [thereon]," this refers precisely to the inner mind of sentient beings. "Inner mind" means thirsting and yearning, wishing to hear the Lotus [Sūtra]. Although the preceding [text] explained entering samādhi, raining flowers, and shaking the earth, if there were no inner mind thirsting, yearning, and wishing to hear, the Buddha would not be able to preach the Lotus [Sūtra]. Furthermore, the aforementioned entering into samādhi, shaking the earth, and raining flowers are the external conditions, whereas the present mind thirsting, yearning, and wishing to hear is the internal cause; only when cause and condition are complete can the teaching be expounded. Question: The earlier raining of flowers and shaking of the earth already caused the assembly to rejoice, which constitutes the cause having been completed; why does [the treatise] now further explain the cause? Answer: Although joy was generated earlier, they did not yet know that [the Buddha] wished to preach the great Dharma. Now, witnessing the Buddha emit light and display the events of the Buddha lands in the east, they certainly know that he ought to preach the great Dharma for their sake; therefore, they thirst and yearn, wishing to hear it, which is called the fulfillment of the meaning of the cause.