觀彌勒上生兜率天經贊 2.5

2.5

The Commentary says: Below, the text explains the presentation of the request. Within this there are two parts: first, adducing the past to give rise to the present inquiry; second, presenting the present [state] to challenge [the matter] with a subsequent inquiry. This is the first. Previously it said 'World-Honoured One' to address the Buddha. Here it says 'World-Honoured One' again to speak of the Buddha, speaking of how the Buddha in the past spoke of Maitreya. Being the honoured one in the world and beyond the world, it is abbreviated as 'World-Honoured One', which is the tenth epithet, Bhagavān. In Sanskrit it is *vinaya*, which here means 'taming and subduing'—regulating and controlling the karmas of body, speech, and so forth, and subduing and eradicating all afflictions; that is to say, the root text of the extensive Vinaya. The ancients said *pini* or *pini*, both of which are corruptions. The Closely-Attendant One thoroughly understood the Vinaya Piṭaka and was also quite well-versed in the sūtras; since prophecies are mostly found within the Vinaya, he raised the inquiry based on this. As for 'Ajita', here translated as 'Invincible', it is Maitreya's courtesy name. His name is Maitreya, and his courtesy name is Ajita. In the past, the Buddha was on Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa and said, 'The one who will become a Buddha next after me is named Maitreya.' At that time there was a bodhisattva named Maitreya who arose from his seat and said to the Buddha, 'World-Honoured One! May I in the future become that Maitreya.' The Buddha said, 'So it shall be.' Therefore, he now brings up the past to raise the subsequent inquiry.