維摩經略疏 7.16

7.16

「又言至悲起」，二、却答第一問。上已辨權疾之生滅，今次答起權疾之因由，由於大悲。即不可思議解脫無緣慈悲善根力，故能現身有疾利益三土。此無心於物。《大經》云「即於五指出五師子，如來實不作念而象見師子，當知皆是慈善根力。」今淨名大悲熏心，現三土疾，亦復如是。眾生緣、法緣即不能爾。今淨名無緣大悲，故能三土現身有疾說四教三觀，如置毒於乳乃至醍醐亦能殺人。菩薩大悲亦復如是，隨所現身，同事利益功不唐捐。故《大經》云「慈即如來、慈即解脫。」此之慈悲即具一切佛法，如磁石吸鐵，悲亦如慈。

From "It also says... to compassion arising" onward is the second [part], going back to reply to the first question. Above, the arising and cessation of the provisional illness have already been distinguished; now next is replying to the cause and reason for the arising of the provisional illness, which is due to great compassion. That is, by the power of the wholesome roots of unconditioned kindness and compassion of inconceivable liberation, he is able to manifest a body with illness to benefit the three lands. This is to have no conscious intent toward beings. The Great Sūtra says: "Right from the five fingers he emitted five lions; the Tathāgata in truth formed no thought, yet the elephant saw the lions—you should know that this is all the power of the wholesome roots of kindness." Now Vimalakīrti's great compassion perfumes his mind, manifesting illness in the three lands, which is also like this. Kindness conditioned by sentient beings or conditioned by phenomena cannot be like this. Now Vimalakīrti has unconditioned great compassion, and therefore is able to manifest a body with illness in the three lands to expound the four teachings and threefold contemplation, like poison placed in milk, which can kill someone even when [processed] into ghee. The bodhisattva's great compassion is also like this: whichever body he manifests, he works together to benefit, and his effort is not in vain. Therefore the Great Sūtra says: "Kindness is the Tathāgata; kindness is liberation." This kindness and compassion are endowed with all buddhadharmas, like a lodestone attracting iron; compassion is also like kindness.