摘要
「譬喻」是表現《法華經》之精髓所在，也是串連《法華經》全文之生命特點，亦可觀出《法華經》少議論多譬喻之特質，於法華譬喻中展現，一佛乘思想、諸法實相、開權顯實、開三顯一、開近顯遠、及久遠釋迦如來一乘大法之思。《法華經》七譬喻，呈現如來為宣示 一佛乘，開示悟入佛之知見， 佛為七種煩惱眾生，用一一方便法門令入涅槃，此七種增上慢心，以七種譬喻對治。 從佛為度七種煩惱眾生而以七種譬喻對治，對上中下根人譬說故事，七種故事情節環環相扣，代表深層思想涵意，論述法華最終一乘思想。《法華經》之譬喻以種種因緣譬喻明彰一乘實相，其譬喻與諸法實相結合，其教義教法在深層內涵中，如能深入明瞭法華譬喻，就能體悟一乘法義。
並列摘要
Analogy and parables are extensively used in “Lotus Sutra” to deliver the very essence of this text and to show the key points of Buddha’s teachings. In form of analogies and parables, the text conveys the following ideas: One of big vehicular thought, All things ultimate reality, Opening the expedient teachings and revealing the true one, Opening the three kinds and merging in to one of big vehicular, Telling now story to display far accomplishments, and remote Shakya Tathagata a big vehicular thought of the analogy convey. The seven parables in “Lotus Sutra” indicate Tathagata’s idea of one big vehicle and contain Buddha’s supreme wisdom. All living beings have seven desires or attachments that are deeply implanted in their minds; therefore, Tathagata used words of simile and parable to lead all living beings to nirvana. There are seven stories told to deal with the seven types of arrogance. To help all living being remove the seven desires, Tathagata tell stories to the poor, the moderate, and the sharp intellect. Each parable, connected with one another, deals with one means of saving living beings from one of the seven afflictions. Each implies deep meanings and thoughts of “Lotus Sutra”. Each of them, developed by a thought-provoking story, expresses the one of big Vehicle concept and is presented in response to the true significance of “Lotus Sutra”. You can realize the meaning of one big Vehicle if you can understand the metaphors throughout the text.
參考文獻
李志夫：《妙法蓮華經玄義研究》（台北：中華佛教，1997）。
劉貴傑：《天台學概論》（台北：文津，2005）。
丁 敏：〈譬喻佛典之研究──撰集百緣經、賢愚經、雜寶藏經、大莊嚴論經〉，
張訓義：〈方東美與裴柏「根源譬喻」〉，《鵝湖月刊》第31卷，第1期（2005/07），
郭朝順：〈從智顗對《法華經》神變之詮釋論天台哲學之成立〉，《東吳哲學學報》 第10期（2004/08），頁93-143。