法華論疏 2.76

2.76

This only clarifies that there are five reasons regarding the śrāvakas, which is why he had to address them. First, 'for the sake of the task that the śrāvakas ought to perform': the "Parable Chapter" below states, 'Although I taught your nirvāṇa, it was only the exhaustion of birth and death, and not true extinction.' What ought to be performed now is solely the Buddha's wisdom. Bodhisattvas have already brought forth the Buddha-mind, practiced like the Buddha, and already performed the work of the Buddha's wisdom; hence there was no need to address the bodhisattvas. The śrāvakas have not yet performed the Buddha's work, and he wished to cause them to perform it; therefore, he addressed them. Second, 'in order that the śrāvakas turn their minds toward great bodhi': bodhisattvas have brought forth the mind toward the great path, so there was no need to address them. The śrāvakas have not yet turned; now he wished to cause them to turn, and therefore he had to address them. The former caused them to perform the Buddha-cause; the present clarifies turning toward the Buddha-fruit. Third, 'to protect the śrāvakas, fearing they might be faint-hearted': the śrāvakas fear that the Buddha path is long and distant, and therefore he had to address them. Bodhisattvas are not like this. Fourth, 'in order to cause other people to reflect well': outside of Śāriputra himself, the hosts of humans, devas, and bodhisattvas are all called 'other people.' [They reflect:] If the śrāvakas were originally not people who would become Buddhas, yet they are to attain Buddhahood, how could we not seek Buddhahood? This causes them to reflect upon this principle. Fifth, 'so that the śrāvakas do not give rise to the mind that what was to be done is already accomplished': the śrāvakas hold the attachment of preserving their own ultimate achievement, and therefore he had to address them. Bodhisattvas do not have this illness, so there was no need to address them.