No. 605-A刻註法華經序
Preface to the Annotated Lotus Sutra
夫法華一經，獨冠羣經之首，直授羣機，成佛而後已。經云：開示悟入，佛之知見。至矣哉！所謂一大事因緣者也。智者大師讀經至是，名真精進，是名真法供養。悟靈山一會，儼然未散，質之南嶽思師。師曰：非汝不悟，非我不識，文字法師，無及汝者。於是闡揚玄義解題，復說文句解經，章安尊者筆記成帙。嗣後諸師註解，煩略不同，宗趣不一，若分河飲水，不出大海。趙宋柯山棲雲沙門諱守倫者，篤志養親，托跡林泉，註釋此經，年逾二紀，方得就緒。俱本台宗，分科分段，約二十卷。入台宗者，一見瞭然，不難深入。先師漚生，曾獲古本，如獲至寶，藏之篋中。萬曆戊子，至桐邑順慶寺大悲閣下，與眾敷演其本，偶脫一紙，先師發願默禱普賢願王。會有一僧持此經來，亦落一紙，遞相補足，成就勝因，此其驗也。先師辭世，不慧欲再一參訂，重刻流通，因緣未偶。天啟丁卯佛生日，吾徒法濟忽對余曰：師嘗以守倫經註為訓字太繁，欲再刪證，此願未完，今代師成云可乎？余贊許之。適顧正循居士至，齒及此事，欣然曰：弟子有願刻法華，今師此刻願作一領袖。蘭盆齋日，赴吳興開昭予先生施食之招，復及之，先生亦踊躍歡喜，即許刻十卷，其餘復勸施贊成，所謂佛法因緣不可強也，非靈山一會人何以有此？後之披閱此註者，幸不昧倫法師一段苦心，使羣機當下即得開示，悟入佛之知見，燈燈相接，功德可思議也哉！
The Lotus Sutra stands as the foremost among all scriptures, directly imparting its teachings to all beings, leading them to Buddhahood. The sutra states: "To reveal, to guide, to awaken, and to enter into the Buddha’s knowledge and vision." This is truly profound! This is what is called the "one great cause"—the ultimate purpose for the Buddha’s appearance in this world.
When the Great Master Zhiyi read this passage, it was said that he truly embodied diligence and made a true Dharma offering. He realized that the assembly on Vulture Peak was still present, not yet dispersed. He consulted his mentor, Master Nanyue Huiwen, who said: "If not for you, no one would have realized this. If not for me, no one would have recognized it. None of the textual scholars can match you." Thus, he expounded the profound meaning of the scripture, providing both structural explanations (Xuan Yi) and textual commentary (Wen Ju), which were recorded by Master Zhang’an as a text.
Later, many teachers wrote commentaries, but these varied widely in detail and in their core message—like dividing a river into separate streams, all still originating from the same ocean.
During the Song Dynasty, the monk Shoulun of the Qiyun Temple in Keshan devoted himself to supporting his parents while living in seclusion. He spent over twelve years writing a commentary on the Lotus Sutra. His work, based on the Tiantai school, was divided into sections and chapters, roughly twenty volumes in length. Those who entered the Tiantai tradition could understand it at a glance and easily delve deeply into its meaning.
My late teacher, Master Ousheng, once acquired an ancient copy of this commentary and cherished it as a precious treasure, keeping it in his case. In the year Wuzi of the Wanli era, at the Great Compassion Pavilion of the Shunqing Temple in Tongcheng, he was explaning this text to an assembly when a single page was accidentally lost. My teacher prayed silently to the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra. At that moment, a certain monk appeared, carrying a copy of this sutra, and he also happened to have a single missing page. Miraculously, the lost page and the monk’s page filled each other’s gaps perfectly, completing this auspicious karma—a clear sign of the power of prayer.
After my teacher passed away, I, unworthy as I am, wished to re-edit the text, annotate it, and republish it widely. However, karmic conditions were not yet aligned. On the Buddha’s Birthday of the year Dingmao in the Tianqi era, my disciple Faji suddenly said to me: "Master, you once remarked that Shoulun’s commentary was too long-winded, and you wished to abridge and revise it. This aspiration remains unfulfilled. May I fulfill it on your behalf?" I gladly gave my approval.
At that moment, layman Gu Zhengxun happened to visit. Upon hearing of this matter, he joyfully said: "I made a vow to publish the Lotus Sutra. Now that you wish to print this commentary, let me lead this effort." During the Ullambana festival, I went to Wuxing to attend a Dharma ceremony hosted by Mr. Zhaoyu. Upon hearing of our plan, he was elated and eagerly vowed to publish ten volumes, encouraging others with similar generosity. Truly, such conditions are driven by the Dharma—they cannot be forced. Without belonging to the assembly on Vulture Peak, how could such collective support arise?
Future readers of this commentary should cherish the heartfelt effort of Dharma Master Shoulun. May this teaching enable all beings to receive revelation, guidance, awakening, and entry into the Buddha’s knowledge and vision, passing this light from one to another like a lamp. The merit of this is truly inconceivable!
崇禎元年戊辰佛成道日玉溪菩提菴聖行撰
On the day of Buddha's Enlightenment, in the first year of the Chongzhen era (1628), written by Shengxing at the Bodhi Hermitage in Yuxi.