法華義疏 1.251

1.251

「菩薩摩訶薩」者，第二、列菩薩眾。所以列菩薩眾者凡有三義：一者、欲證阿難聞經可信，阿難若共小乘人聞大法，未足可信；今共大人而聞大法，則可信也。二者、佛為小眾圍遶、其德未重；為大人羽翼，佛德始尊。三者、欲顯是大乘經，以聲聞經初無菩薩眾故也。就文有六：一、標通號；二、唱數；三、明位；四、歎德；五、列名；六、總結。具足應云菩提薩埵，菩提云道，是無上正遍知果道也。薩埵云眾生，為求果道故名道眾生也。舊名道士，其言最勝，而即世學張李之道，本名治頭及鬼卒，後盜取佛法道士之名也。

Regarding "bodhisattva-mahāsattva", this is the second part: listing the assembly of bodhisattvas. The reasons for listing the assembly of bodhisattvas generally comprise three meanings: first, to bear witness that Ānanda's hearing the sūtra is trustworthy—if Ānanda had heard the Great Dharma together with Hīnayāna persons, it would not yet be trustworthy, but now that he heard the Great Dharma together with great persons, it is trustworthy; second, if the Buddha were surrounded by a minor assembly, his virtue would not yet be weighty, but with great persons as his retinue, the Buddha's virtue is first exalted; third, to show that this is a Mahāyāna sūtra, because the beginning of śrāvaka sūtras does not contain an assembly of bodhisattvas. With respect to the text, there are six points: first, indicating the common title; second, declaring the number; third, clarifying the stages; fourth, praising the virtues; fifth, listing the names; sixth, the general conclusion. The full form should be "bodhisattva". *Bodhi* means the Way, which is the fruit-stage Way of unexcelled, correct, and all-pervading knowledge. *Sattva* means sentient being; because they seek the fruit-stage Way, they are called "Way sentient beings". The old designation was "scholar of the Way" (dàoshì), which was the finest phrasing; yet in contemporary times, those who follow the ways of Zhang and Li were originally called "parish leaders" (zhìtóu) and "demon soldiers" (guǐzú), and later stole the Buddhist name of "scholar of the Way".