維摩義記 3.17

3.17

「不思議品」者，此初對中前明所行，此明所成。由前修治斷除病障，便成出世解脫之德。德成自在妙用難測，心言不及，名不思議。廣辨此義，名不思議。此品有三：一、因舍利念坐為由，維摩身現不思議事；二、「舍利言未曾有」下，因舍利嘆，維摩口說不思議德；三、「時大迦葉聞說是」下，因大迦葉傷嘆自絕，維摩辨出不思議人。初中有三：一、舍利弗念坐為由；二、維摩詰因其所念教正求法；三、「爾時長者問文殊」下，因其所念取坐燈王，現不思事。初中「舍利」，舉能念人。「見此室中無有床坐」，明念所因。因上空室。「作是念」等，正明所念。「斯諸菩薩」，舉菩薩眾。斯猶此也。「大弟子」者，舉聲聞眾。此等諸聖當於何坐。何故舍利偏興此念？良以舍利弟子中標智慧深明，知因此念廣有起發，故偏起念。

Regarding the "Inconceivable Chapter": within this first pair, the preceding [chapter] explained what is practiced, and this [chapter] explains what is accomplished. Because of the previous cultivation and eradication of the hindrance of illness, one then accomplishes the supramundane virtue of liberation. Once this virtue is accomplished, its sovereign and wondrous functions are difficult to fathom, beyond the reach of mind and speech, and are called inconceivable. Extensively distinguishing this meaning is called the "Inconceivable." This chapter has three parts: first, taking Śāriputra's thought about seats as the occasion, Vimalakīrti bodily manifests inconceivable matters; second, from "Śāriputra said: 'It is unprecedented!'" below, taking Śāriputra's praise as the occasion, Vimalakīrti orally explains inconceivable virtues; third, from "At that time Mahākāśyapa, hearing this exposition..." below, taking Mahākāśyapa's grieving lamentation of his own exclusion as the occasion, Vimalakīrti brings out the inconceivable persons. In the first [part] there are three [sections]: first, Śāriputra's thought about seats serves as the occasion; second, Vimalakīrti, based on what he thought, teaches the correct seeking of the Dharma; third, from "At that time the elder asked Mañjuśrī..." below, based on what he thought, he procures seats from the King of Lamps and manifests inconceivable matters. In the first [section], "Śāriputra" names the person who could have the thought. "Seeing that there were neither couches nor seats in this room" explains the cause of the thought. It was due to the aforementioned empty room. "Had this thought..." and so forth directly clarifies what was thought. "These bodhisattvas" designates the assembly of bodhisattvas; "si" means "these." "The great disciples" designates the assembly of śrāvakas. Where should all these noble ones sit? Why did Śāriputra specifically give rise to this thought? Because Śāriputra was pre-eminent among the disciples for his profound and clear wisdom, and knew that by means of this thought there would be widespread inspiration, he specifically gave rise to this thought.