維摩經略疏 10.20

10.20

正說中為三段，〈佛國品〉是如來當宗演暢。第二從〈方便品〉去至〈香積品〉，大士助揚聖化。第三從此品至〈阿閦品〉還歸佛所印定成經。此二品來意有五：一、大士助佛闡揚。有緣之眾緣縛既盡，化功已畢須還佛所。二、佛初明佛國因果，大士助宣此義，殊辭異辨。若不還歸印定，物或疑網不除，是故須歸佛所復宗明義，故師弟相對復宗敷演，更明佛國。三、室內既是別座，當機之徒或生疑綱，為斷此疑，還於佛所對揚。四、機宜應在佛所得悟，不從餘人，故還佛所也。五、雖室內詮量至道，不蒙佛印則不成經，為印定故須往佛所。品之來意如此也。

Within the main teaching section there are three divisions: the 'Buddha-Land Chapter' is where the Tathāgata proclaims the central doctrine. Second, from the 'Expedient Means Chapter' up to the 'Accumulated Fragrances Chapter,' the mahāsattvas assist in proclaiming the sacred teaching. Third, from this chapter to the 'Akṣobhya Chapter,' they return to the Buddha's presence to seal and confirm the completion of the sūtra. There are five purposes for the coming of these two chapters: 1. The mahāsattvas assist the Buddha in expounding the teaching; when the fetters of affinity of the conditioned assembly are exhausted and their transformative work is complete, they must return to the Buddha's place. 2. The Buddha initially clarified the cause and effect of the buddha-land, and the mahāsattvas assisted in proclaiming this meaning with different words and distinct eloquence; if they did not return to be sealed and confirmed, beings might not dispel their net of doubts; therefore, they must return to the Buddha's presence to reiterate the doctrine and clarify its meaning, so teacher and disciple face each other to expound the doctrine and further elucidate the buddha-land. 3. Since inside the room was a separate gathering, those suited to the occasion might produce a net of doubts; to cut off this doubt, they return to the Buddha's presence to proclaim before him. 4. The capacities of some beings require that they attain awakening in the Buddha's presence and not from another person; hence they return to the Buddha's presence. 5. Although the supreme path was expounded inside the room, without receiving the Buddha's seal it does not constitute a sūtra; to obtain the seal and confirmation, they must go to the Buddha's presence. Such are the purposes for the coming of the chapter.