法華論疏 2.2

2.2

According to the treatise's seventeen titles, the thirteenth is the Sūtra of the Great Skillful Means of All Buddhas. Relying on this Dharma-gate, after attaining great bodhi, one expounds for sentient beings the teachings of humans, devas, the two vehicles, and so on; this is called "great skillful means," hence it is named the "Skillful Means Chapter." Furthermore, later in the treatise it explains that the Buddha has seven kinds of skillful means, hence it is named the "Skillful Means Chapter." According to the end of the treatise below, the treatise master divides [the explanation of] skillful means into five sections: first, explaining the merit of the marvelous Dharma; next, explaining the merit of the Tathāgata as Dharma Master; third, clarifying the three meanings of the great assembly; fourth, clarifying the four meanings of the Tathāgata; fifth, resolving four kinds of doubts. As for the text, there are two parts: first, citing the sūtra text; next, the treatise's explanation. Since the sūtra text is lengthy, we will now first analyze it into headings, and then afterwards take up the treatise's explanation. Relying on the treatise, the sūtra is analyzed into three parts: first, describing the Tathāgata arising from concentration.