大般涅槃經集解 9.38

9.38

Sengzong comments: Intending to answer the objection, he first raises a simile. The king represents the Buddha, the ministers represent the bodhisattvas who understand the Dharma, the sons represent the four assemblies, and being handsome and well-formed represents understanding of the principle that is impartial. Baoliang comments: It shows that the Tathāgata entrusts the four classes of disciples to those who propagate the Dharma to instruct and bring them to completion. Even supposing that three classes of disciples do not follow the instruction and do not fully attain the Way, yet there remains one assembly, and one cannot refrain from punishing them out of few desires. The reason they do not incur guilt has two meanings: first, having no malicious mind; second, revealing the operation of benevolence.