大般涅槃經疏 7.8

7.8

The second [part], the questions proper, has four parts: 1. wishing to ask, 2. permitting the asking, 3. humbly asking, 4. the questions proper. Wishing to ask also has two parts: first the narrator of the sūtra sets the scene; next [the interlocutor] requests permission on his own initiative. Within the narrative setting there are four parts: 1. narrating his fundamental stage, 2. narrating his trace lineage, 3. narrating the responsive encounter, 4. narrating his deportment. First, as for the fundamental stage, there is general and particular: 'bodhisattva' is the general stage, and 'youth' (kumāra) is the particular stage. The treatise says: 'That he is twelve years old and able to ask contains four intentions: 1. The true Dharma is not physical form; one must not dismiss the Dharma because a person is young, for one respects the Dharma and respects the person; 2. It generates goodness in the monks, making their faith in the bodhisattva path firm; 3. It humbles arrogance; 4. It clarifies that the Buddha's power is great.' If according to the ten abodes, it is the ninth abode; if classified with Mañjuśrī Kumārabhūta, it is the summit of the ten grounds. The stages of the noble are difficult to fathom; for now we use the ten grounds to explain 'youth'. Next, in the trace lineage, stating 'Brahmin' means his trace relies on an exalted clan surname. 'Mahākāśyapa' means he was born into an aristocratic family, like the prominent clans here. 3. 'Through the Buddha's supernatural power' refers to the responsive encounter: acting as the leader of the assembly of definitive understanding, he responds to the Buddha's august empowerment as the interlocutor, enabling the fifty-two assemblies to drink the amṛta together. If not for such a great vessel, who could accomplish this? 4. 'Then rising from his seat' narrates his deportment. Next, from 'and addressed the Buddha, saying' onwards, requesting permission on his own initiative: although the Buddha generally encouraged them, would he permit the question or not? Therefore he made this request. Next, from 'The Buddha said' onwards, the Buddha permits it, as in the text.