法華論疏 1.46

1.46

From 'together with the great bhikṣus' downward is the second part, citing the section on the fulfillment of the assembly. Kumārajīva's translation of the sūtra has three [groups]: first, śrāvakas; second, bodhisattvas; third, the assembly of humans and devas. Here it cites only the first two, because these two assemblies have praised virtues and he now wishes to explain them, hence he cites them; because the assembly of humans and devas has no praised virtues, is easily understood, and has already been explained in other sūtras, he does not cite it. Regarding the citation of the two assemblies, there are two: in citing the śrāvaka assembly, the old sūtra has bhikṣus and bhikṣuṇīs, but here he cites only bhikṣus. In the assembly of bhikṣus there are two aspects: first, the manifest names; second, the hidden practices. Here he cites only the manifest names and not the hidden practices, both because they are easy to understand and because they lack praised virtues. Among the bhikṣus there are six headings: first, stating the general designation; second, declaring the number; third, clarifying the status; fourth, praising the virtues; fifth, listing the names; sixth, the general conclusion. Here he lists only the first four and does not list the latter two. Furthermore, the commentary in the treatise does not explain the first general designation or the fifth listing of names.