維摩義記 4.50

4.50

次第四門科分辨釋。就此會中，初明由序。「眾坐定」下是其正宗。序中有三：一、維摩詰欲往佛所先現瑞相發起眾心；二、掌持大眾往詣佛所起眾所欲；三、佛為化益勅眾令坐。初中復三：一、維摩現相；二、阿難請；三、如來辨。初中「是時佛說法」者，明現相時。「於菴羅薗」，明現相處。「其地忽然廣博嚴」等，正明現相。為容多眾，故令地廣。為安淨眾現宣淨法，故令嚴淨。使大眾咸皆慕仰，故令眾會皆作金色，此亦即顯不思議也。二、阿難請，三、佛辨答，文皆可知。此初段竟。自下第二掌持大眾往詣菴羅。於中，維摩初命文殊，可共見佛，與諸菩薩禮事供養。次、文殊述。「善哉行矣。今正是時」。下維摩詰正持眾往，先標其人。「即以神力」，明其所用。謂不思議如意通力，持諸眾等，顯其所作。先持眾往，須到著地。下與諸眾禮敬如來。維摩先禮。「稽首足」下，禮之別稱，此表敬也。屈首接足，是自卑相，故用表敬。右遶表愛。𧞽還不離，是愛戀相，故用表愛。「一心合掌」，明心專也。恭敬如來，故「一面立」。次諸菩薩、後餘聲聞釋梵等眾，咸皆避坐，稽首佛足。以此諸眾前皆在坐，維摩持來，故須比之。上來第二維摩持眾往詣菴羅，自下第三佛勅令坐。先勅、後坐，文顯可知。上來由序。

Next, the fourth section divides and analyzes the text. In this assembly, the preface is explained first; from "the assembly having taken their seats" onward is the main part. Within the preface, there are three parts: 1. Vimalakīrti wishes to go to the Buddha's place, first manifesting an auspicious sign to arouse the assembly's minds; 2. Holding the great assembly in his hand, he goes to the Buddha's place to arouse the assembly's aspiration; 3. The Buddha, for their transformative benefit, instructs the assembly to sit down. Within the first part, there are again three: 1. Vimalakīrti manifests signs; 2. Ānanda requests [an explanation]; 3. The Tathāgata explains. In the first of these, "At that time, when the Buddha was preaching the Dharma" explains the time when the sign was manifested. "In the Āmrapālī grove" explains the place where the sign was manifested. "The ground suddenly became broad and magnificent..." and so forth directly explains the manifested signs. In order to accommodate the large assembly, the ground was made broad. In order to settle the pure assembly and manifest and proclaim the pure Dharma, it was made magnificent and pure. In order to cause the great assembly to gaze up in longing, the assembly was made entirely golden; this also reveals the inconceivable. The second, Ānanda's request, and the third, the Buddha's explanatory reply, can both be known from the text. This concludes the first section. From here, the second part shows [Vimalakīrti] holding the great assembly in his hand to go to the Āmrapālī grove. Therein, Vimalakīrti first invites Mañjuśrī to go together to see the Buddha, so that they may pay homage, serve, and make offerings alongside the bodhisattvas. Next, Mañjuśrī affirms, "Excellent, let us go! Now is the very time." Below, Vimalakīrti actually carries the assembly and goes: first the person is designated; "instantly using his supernatural power" explains what he employed, namely, the inconceivable supernatural power of accomplishing things as wished; carrying the assembly and so on reveals his action. First he carries the assembly and goes, and upon arrival places them on the ground. Below, he pays homage to the Tathāgata alongside the assembly. Vimalakīrti bows first. From "bowing his head to the feet" downward, this is a distinctive designation of paying homage, expressing respect. Bending the head and touching the feet is a mark of self-humbling, and is therefore used to express respect. Circumambulating to the right expresses affection. Circling around without departing is a mark of loving attachment, and is therefore used to express affection. "With single-mindedness joining his palms" clarifies the single-minded focus of his mind. Out of reverence for the Tathāgata, he "stands to one side." Next, all the bodhisattvas, and thereafter the remaining śrāvakas, Śakra, Brahmā, and the rest of the assembly, all vacate their seats and bow their heads to the Buddha's feet. Because this assembly was previously seated and Vimalakīrti brought them here, they must be treated similarly. The above was the second part, Vimalakīrti carrying the assembly to the Āmrapālī grove. From here, the third part is the Buddha instructing them to sit down. First he instructs them, and then they sit, which is obvious from the text. The above constitutes the preface.