維摩義記 1.55

1.55

From here down is the second [section]: dispelling doubts to reveal purity. Why is this necessary? Previously, it was said that pure land causes lead to the pure land fruit. Yet the Buddha himself currently resides in an impure land. Phenomena and words conflict, and what was said is hard to believe. Therefore, it is necessary to dispel doubts to establish the previous meaning. Many sūtras do this. Thus, in the Nirvāṇa [Sūtra], when the Buddha said that bodhisattvas cultivate a pure Buddha-land, King of Virtue directly asked: "Why did the Tathāgata not cultivate a pure land, but resides himself in an impure land?" The Buddha then answered him: "My land is ever-pure." This is similar to that. The text has three parts: first, Śāriputra's doubtful thoughts arise; second, from "The Buddha knew his thoughts" down, [the Buddha] reveals purity in response to them; third, from "When the Buddha revealed this majestic purity" down, the benefit of the transformation is clarified. In the first part, "at that time" is the time when the thought arose—namely, the time of this preaching. The words "Śāriputra" name the person with doubtful thoughts. In the sūtras he is also named Qiuluzi (Son of Śāri), and also named Upatisya. Śāri is his mother's name; his mother's eyes resembled those of a śāri bird, which is translated here as "body." Putra is translated here as "son." Śāri's son is named Śāriputra. Qiuluzi is [based on] his mother's name: his mother's eyes resembled those of an autumn-dew (śāri) bird, hence she was named Autumn Dew (Qiulu). Distinguishing him by his mother, he is named Qiuluzi. Upatisya: this is translated as "discourse" (upadeśa). The person was sharp-witted and adept at difficult debates; from this he was called Upatisya. Why did this person alone have doubtful thoughts? Truly because this person was foremost in wisdom, able to raise questions and stimulate discussion regarding profound Dharmas; hence he alone had doubtful thoughts. It is often like this in the text below. "Through the Buddha's spiritual power" is the cause of the thought's arising. When an inferior receives the power of a superior, it is called "receiving" (cheng). "Majesty" (wei) means majestic virtue; "spiritual" (shen) means spiritual power. Here, receiving the empowerment of the Tathāgata's mental power, he generated doubtful thoughts. Why was this necessary? Because through these doubtful thoughts there would be vast developments, and what was initiated was of great importance; hence it had to be received [from the Buddha]. Saying that he received the Buddha's spiritual power clarifies that his thought tallied with the eternal. "Conceived this thought" directly raises the doubtful mind. Below, the manner of the doubt is shown. "If a bodhisattva's mind is pure" cites the Buddha's words above. The doubt arose from this, which is why he cites it. Below, it raises the doubt. "Our World-Honoured One" names the person doubted. To distinguish him from the Buddhas of pure lands in other directions, he specifically designates him as "our World-Honoured One." This Buddha dwells in impurity, which gives rise to doubt and wonder, so he must be distinguished. The Buddha is equipped with all virtues and revered by the world, hence he is titled "World-Honoured One"; the Honoured One who transforms me is called "our World-Honoured One." "When he was originally a bodhisattva, could his mind not have been pure, that this Buddha-land is impure like this?" expresses the matter doubted. "When he was originally a bodhisattva, could his mind not have been pure?"—measuring the cause against the fruit, he doubts whether there was a pure mind. "Intent" (yi) is simply "mind" (xin); "could" means "is it possible that." The Buddha previously stated himself that when the mind is pure the land is pure. The Buddha himself now dwells in an impure land; could it be that formerly in the causal stage, when he was a bodhisattva, his mind was not pure, that this Buddha-land is impure like this? Testing the fruit by the cause, he wonders at the lack of a pure land. If he originally had a pure mind, he ought to have attained a pure land; on what account is the land attained today impure like this?