According to Tendai’s “Branches of the Lotus Sutra,” the parables are divided into two portions, the exposition and the explanation of correspondences.

Correspondences to the Parable of the Rich Man and His Poor Son

Just as the very rich elder said, “This is my son,” the Tathāgata has declared that we are his sons.

Just as the son fainted from fear when taken by the messengers sent by his father, we have borne all kinds of torments in the midst of birth-death because of the three sufferings, and because of our delusion and ignorance we have enjoyed our attachment to inferior dharmas.

Just as the father sent two ill-looking messengers to get his son to work for him, the Tathāgata has caused us to remove the dirt of diverting discussions over the various dharmas. We have been diligent in our progress and have received the day’s hire of reaching nirvana.

Just as the father and the son for twenty years built up confidence, but the son remains in his original place, the Tathāgata, knowing that our minds were attached to desires and delighted in inferior dharmas, let us go our own way; he did not discriminate against us, saying: “You possess the treasury of Tathāgata knowledge.”

Just as when the elder, intending to give the son all his treasures, made him supervisor, but the son did not expect to receive even a single meal, the Buddha through his skillful means speaks of the Tathāgata wisdom but we, following the Buddha, accept the day’s hire of nirvana, are satisfied with that, and do not seek out the Great Vehicle. We have also declared and expounded the Tathāgata wisdom for the sake of bodhisattvas, but the Buddha, knowing that our minds delight in inferior things, has through his skillful means taught according to our capacity. We still did not perceive that we were really the sons of the Buddha.

Just as the elder, as death approached, called his relatives and the kings together and declared that this was his real son to whom he would bequeath all his wealth, the Tathāgata does not begrudge the Buddha wisdom; from old we have delighted in inferior things although we were the Buddha’s sons. If we had a mind to take pleasure in the Great Vehicle, the Buddha would have taught the Great Vehicle to us. Now in this sutra he preaches the sole One Vehicle.

Thus, just as the son was overjoyed hearing his father’s words and finding the treasures had come of themselves to him, we, though having no mind to hope or expect it, now have a great treasure of the king of the Dharma come of itself to us. Such things that Buddha-sons should obtain, we have obtained.