維摩義記 4.40

4.40

Question: Previously with the seats he addressed both the great and the small alike; why does he now address only the śrāvakas? Explanation: there are four meanings. First, previously the thought of seats was addressed equally to both great and small, so he previously addressed them equally. Now, this thought of food was specifically for the bodhisattvas; fearing that those śrāvakas would not dare to take and eat it, he therefore specifically addressed them. Second, both the great and the small universally required bed-seats, so he universally addressed them. Regarding food, the śrāvakas have their distinct rules for begging; toward this which had been fetched they had no intention of eating, so he specifically addressed them. In the third meaning: the seats fetched earlier were supremely lofty and vast, and to accommodate this human measure, he had to instruct the bodhisattvas to transform their bodies to match the seats and instruct the śrāvakas to pay homage to the Buddha and sit down; therefore he universally addressed them. The food fetched now was extremely little and not much; the śrāvakas' minds were narrow and feared that being so little it would not be enough, having no intention of eating, and therefore he then addressed them. The bodhisattvas' minds were broad; they knew that a little would ultimately become much and had no worry about not eating, which is why he did not address them. In the fourth meaning: previously, in fetching the seats, there was no discrimination between great and small, so he previously addressed them universally. Now in fetching this food, it was said that "those who delight in a lesser Dharma may expand the Great Path," and that Buddha's intention in giving the food was likewise; truly, because the śrāvakas were precisely the target, he therefore now specifically addressed them, wishing to make them eat together, know the inexhaustibility of the rice, and arouse the aspiration and resolve. The intended meaning is like this.