大般涅槃經集解 2.99

2.99

Sengzong comments: These are householder bodhisattvas. 'Upāsaka' here means a man of pure faith. The treatises explain it as 'dwelling well', both translating the name by its meaning. From here below, the listing of the assembly has four levels: first, from this up to ten Ganges sands, ordered by the assemblies becoming gradually larger and the offerings slightly superior; second, from twenty Ganges sands up to ninety Ganges sands, the offerings not necessarily superior, but ordered merely by the assemblies becoming gradually larger; third, from one thousand Ganges sands, ordered by their arriving in disorder without fixed quantity; fourth, from the transformation of the grove downward, the assembly not necessarily large, but ordered by the superiority of the offerings. Mingjun notes: Here fifteen items are listed: first, citing the number; second, stating the status; third, taking morality as the basis of practice, hence first praising morality; fourth, listing names; fifth, next praising concentration, meaning deep contemplation of the counteractive approaches; sixth, praising wisdom, meaning desiring and delighting to hear the unsurpassed Mahāyāna, etc.; seventh, citing the four great vows to praise external conversion; eighth, citing the adornment of pure precepts as concluding praise; ninth, recounting grief and sorrow upon encountering the light; tenth, recounting the preparation of offerings; eleventh, recounting that when preparing the offerings they made great vows again; twelfth, recounting their mindfulness that once the Buddha accepted the offerings he would certainly enter nirvāṇa; thirteenth, recounting their coming to the Buddha's presence; fourteenth, recounting that the Buddha remained silent and did not accept; fifteenth, recounting their grief and sorrow because their wish was unfulfilled.