維摩經略疏 10.79

10.79

就文為三：一佛付囑彌勒、二付囑阿難、三大眾聞經歡喜。付彌勒中為二：初佛付囑、二彌勒受旨。就佛付囑為三：一正付囑此經、二釋、三簡得失。正付囑中為二：一付囑尊經、二命神通守護。「以無量僧祇所集付汝」者，若按迦旃延所解三藏中，明三阿僧祇習學佛法，百劫種相佛道現前。此是三藏小乘淺近之法，修學研行劫數為少。若按《釋論》彈於此義，佛法無量豈是三祇所學能遍？乃經無量億僧祇習塵沙佛法諸深法門，乃可圓滿大乘深妙，是故學劫亦多。今言無量劫所習，故知是大乘妙典付之彌勒。

Dividing the text, there are three parts: first, the Buddha entrusts Maitreya; second, he entrusts Ānanda; third, the great assembly hears the sūtra and rejoices. Entrusting Maitreya has two parts: first, the Buddha entrusts; second, Maitreya receives the command. Under the Buddha's entrustment there are three parts: first, directly entrusting this sūtra; second, explaining; third, distinguishing gains and losses. Under directly entrusting there are two parts: first, entrusting the venerable sūtra; second, commanding spiritual powers to guard and protect it. Regarding "entrusting to you that which was gathered over immeasurable asaṃkhyeyas": if according to what Kātyāyana explained in the Tripiṭaka, it explains three asaṃkhyeyas of practicing and studying the buddha-dharma, and a hundred kalpas of planting the marks, whereupon the buddha-path manifests before one. This is the shallow and close dharma of the Tripiṭaka Hīnayāna, where the number of kalpas of cultivation, study, and refined practice is small. If according to the Dàzhìdù lùn reproving this meaning: the buddha-dharma is immeasurable—how could it be fully covered by what is studied in three asaṃkhyeyas? Only through passing through immeasurable billions of asaṃkhyeyas practicing sands-of-dust buddha-dharmas and deep dharma-gates can one fulfill the profound marvel of the Mahāyāna; therefore the kalpas of study are also many. Now, saying "practiced over immeasurable kalpas", we know it is the marvelous scripture of the Mahāyāna that is entrusted to Maitreya.