大般涅槃經集解 4.77

4.77

Sengzong comments: Hearing that the Buddha accepted food for the sake of the great assembly, there was bound to be the significance of requiting the offering, and there was also reason to request him to remain; hence they rejoiced. Tanxian says: From here below is the second of the four sections: the rejoicing of the great assembly, using the request for him to remain to illuminate permanence. Tan'ai says: This is the third of the eight sections, containing two parts: first, rejoicing and praising Cunda; second, requesting Cunda to ask the Buddha. Huilang relates Sengzong's view: From here below is still the fifth of the seven parts within the first section: the great assembly praising Cunda. Jingyi records Sengzong's view: This is the third of the five parts of the chapter on the offering: the rejoicing of the great assembly. Baoliang says: The rejoicing of the great assembly has three purposes. First, at dawn the extinction was proclaimed without clarifying a specific time, and they only feared arriving too late; having now looked up and beheld his compassionate countenance, they rejoiced. Second, earlier, when he did not accept the offerings of the multitude, they feared their efforts were discarded in vain; now hearing that he accepted Cunda's offering and furthermore stated that it was universally on behalf of the great assembly, they rejoiced. Third, they did not know when he would enter nirvāṇa; although we ourselves did not comprehend the Buddha's intent, Cunda skillfully grasps the sage's mind, so now by requesting Cunda to ask the Buddha to remain, there might be a reason for him to remain; therefore they rejoiced. Zhixiu says: From here below is the second of the four sections, containing three parts: first, the great assembly rejoices and requests Cunda; second, Cunda rejoices in his own fortune and expresses the great assembly's intent to request the Buddha; third, the Buddha approves his self-congratulation and stops his request. 'Understanding the subtle meaning' praises his previous discussion with the Buddha on the profound depths of the two offerings.