維摩經略疏 2.97

2.97

「願聞得佛」下，二、正請。寶積同類既有堪聞之機，騰機請說佛國因果。文為二：一、「願聞得佛土清淨」，即是請果。二、「願說菩薩淨土之行」即是請因。若論次第，應因先果後；今為時眾慕果行因，故先請果後請因也。初所以作此請者，上觀佛合蓋現瑞，知佛欲說佛國之果而現此相，故請說果。次請因者，淨國之果必籍勝因，大眾若聞淨國之果則慕果行因，故請因也。「佛言善哉」下，二、佛答。文為四：一讚許、二誡聽、三受教、四佛正答。「善哉」者，初明讚許。所以佛讚許者，寶積發問深得現瑞所表之意，又能為同輩致請諮決得宜，故讚許也。

From "We wish to hear of attaining the Buddha..." downward is the second part, the formal request. Since Ratnakūṭa and his companions had the capacity to hear, they brought forward their capacity and requested an exposition of the cause and effect of the buddha-land. The text has two parts: first, "We wish to hear of attaining the purity of the buddha-land", which is requesting the fruit; second, "We pray that you will explain the bodhisattva's practice for the pure land", which is requesting the cause. If discussing the sequence, the cause should come first and the fruit second; but now, because the assembled assembly admires the fruit and then practices the cause, the fruit is requested first and the cause afterward. Why this request was made at the outset is that, having previously observed the Buddha join the canopies and manifest an auspicious sign, they knew that the Buddha wished to speak of the fruit of the buddha-land and had manifested this sign, and therefore they requested the exposition of the fruit. Next, requesting the cause is because the fruit of a pure land must rely on superior causes; if the great assembly hears of the fruit of a pure land, they will admire the fruit and practice the cause, and therefore they requested the cause. From "The Buddha said, 'Excellent!'" downward is the second part, the Buddha's answer. The text has four parts: first, praise and assent; second, admonition to listen; third, reception of the teaching; fourth, the Buddha's formal answer. "Excellent" is first to clarify the praise and assent. Why the Buddha praised and assented is that Ratnakūṭa's question deeply grasped the meaning indicated by the manifested auspicious sign, and he was also able to make a request and seek resolution on behalf of his peers appropriately; therefore, he was praised and approved.