妙法蓮華經文句 2.189

2.189

「神變」者，神，內也；變，外也。神名天心，即是天然內慧；變名變動，即是六瑞外彰。《首楞嚴》云：佛住不二法，能作神通，法王法力超蓋一切。彌勒不測外變，亦不知內慧，故興念至此，若夫庸人不知術者，散人不知定者，凡人不知聖者，小聖不知身子，身子不知菩薩，菩薩不知補處，補處不知尊極，此就極處亦不知也。又彌勒值佛植善既多，何容不髣髴知？應須隱明示闇，權言不知也。大眾有兩念：一、正念六瑞，二、念問誰。若將下偈望此，亦得有三念，偈云：「四眾欣仰，瞻仁及我。」無第三念，何事瞻仁？而此中無者，欲推補處居先也。舊解先有三意：一、是補處，二、有三念，三、能發問。為此義故大眾闕一念也。

Regarding 'divine transformations': 'divine' is internal; 'transformation' is external. 'Divine' is called the celestial mind, which is the innate internal wisdom; 'transformation' is called changing movement, which is the external manifestation of the six portents. The Śūraṅgama-samādhi-sūtra says: 'The Buddha abides in non-dual dharma and is able to perform supernatural transformations; the Dharma King's power of Dharma surpasses all.' Maitreya could not fathom the external transformations, nor did he know the internal wisdom; hence his thoughts arose to this point. For mediocre people do not know men of arts; scattered people do not know those in concentration; ordinary people do not know sages; lesser sages do not know Śāriputra; Śāriputra does not know bodhisattvas; bodhisattvas do not know one who is in the stage of succession; one in the stage of succession does not know the Supreme Ultimate—thus even with respect to the ultimate stage, he does not know. Furthermore, Maitreya had encountered many buddhas and planted many good roots; how could he not have even a vague understanding? He had to conceal his illumination and show obscurity, expediently claiming not to know. The great assembly had two thoughts: first, contemplating the six portents; second, contemplating whom to ask. If compared with the verses below, they can also have three thoughts; the verse says, 'The four assemblies look up with joy, gazing upon the benevolent one and me.' Without the third thought, why would they gaze upon the benevolent one? The reason it is absent here is the desire to defer to the one in the stage of succession as foremost. The older explanation previously had three meanings: first, being in the stage of succession; second, having three thoughts; third, being able to raise the question. For this reason, the assembly lacked one thought.