維摩經略疏 3.10

3.10

五、約觀心者，若別相三觀，前二為方便，若入中道即是實慧。初從假入空是破法折伏義也，次從空入假是立法攝受，中道正觀即是教化眾生入實慧也。入實者名法久住，法久住者則法身常存。若一心三觀，方便實慧不一不異，以三觀歷三業明方便巧用可以意知。問：此品定是誰說？答：此有三解。有言：是集經者歎淨名德，為問疾者說如是法。有言：前歎德是集經者，次說法是寶積向佛述淨名有疾而不得來，為問疾者說如是法。有言：是佛同歎淨名有此方便說法利物之事。今恐是佛說。普集經及〈佛國品〉，意在淨名助發宣揚。有此稱歎，淨名懸知，故方便託疾，來詣參問因得興教，阿難本願所未聞經願佛為說，至結集時次〈佛國品〉而誦出之。入室六品阿難在菴羅園，皆付阿難者，亦是重為說。

Fifth, regarding contemplation of mind: if according to the distinct characteristics of the threefold contemplation, the first two are expedient means; if entering the Middle Way, that is real wisdom. First, entering emptiness from the conventional is the meaning of refuting phenomena and subduing; next, entering the conventional from emptiness is establishing phenomena and gathering in; the correct contemplation of the Middle Way is teaching and transforming sentient beings to enter real wisdom. Entering reality is called causing the Dharma to abide long; when the Dharma abides long, the dharmakāya endures eternally. If according to the threefold contemplation in a single mind, expedient means and real wisdom are neither one nor different; applying the threefold contemplation across the three types of karma to clarify the skillful operation of expedient means may be understood accordingly. Question: Who definitively expounded this chapter? Answer: There are three interpretations. Some say: the compiler of the sūtra praised Vimalakīrti's virtues and expounded such teachings for those inquiring after his illness. Some say: the preceding praise of virtue was by the compiler of the sūtra, and the subsequent expounding of the Dharma was Ratnakūṭa narrating to the Buddha that Vimalakīrti was ill and could not come, expounding such teachings for those inquiring after the illness. Some say: it was the Buddha who joined in praising Vimalakīrti's having such expedient means to expound the Dharma and benefit beings. At present, it is likely that it was spoken by the Buddha. The intention of the Universal Assembly Sūtra and the "Buddha-land Chapter" was for Vimalakīrti to assist in inspiring and proclaiming them. Having received this praise, Vimalakīrti knew it in advance, and therefore as an expedient means used illness as a pretext, so that visits and inquiries would allow the teaching to be initiated; Ānanda had made a fundamental vow that the Buddha would expound for him whatever sūtras he had not yet heard, and at the time of the council, it was recited sequentially following the "Buddha-land Chapter". For the six chapters of entering the room Ānanda was at the Āmrapālī Grove, and that they were all entrusted to Ānanda was also because they were expounded again for him.