維摩經略疏 9.45

9.45

「於是」下，二、淨名答。有四十二行偈，為四：初十二行，正答法身眷屬資生，即是自行。二、從「雖知無起滅」去二十七行，明菩薩入假權智無方大用，成前非道及種並為化他入假權用。三、兩行，結嘆自行化他。四、一行，斥破二乘。初文為三：初四行明眷屬、次七行明資生具、三一行結自行德滿。初答者，若是法身實相則無分別，何有親疎？正為入假，故約法門以明眷屬。關河舊解：外國無父母宗親眷屬非為貴人。今約此解，仍為理釋。言無眷屬是賤人者，即是二乘偏真灰斷，無智度母、善權父、萬行功德眷屬，故《法華》以窮子為譬。若是大乘，法身眷屬、臣佐吏民、倉庫眾多。淨名即是佛法貴人，故以偈答言有眷屬也。

From "Thereupon" downward—the second part is Vimalakīrti's reply. There are forty-two lines of verse, divided into four parts: First, twelve lines directly answering regarding the dharmakāya's retinue and requisites, which is one's own practice. Second, twenty-seven lines from "Although knowing that there is no arising or ceasing" onward, explaining the boundless great function of the bodhisattva's expedient wisdom in entering the provisional, accomplishing the previous non-path and seeds, all being the expedient function of entering the provisional to transform others. Third, two lines summarizing and praising one's own practice and transforming others. Fourth, one line rebuking and refuting the two vehicles. The first section has three parts: first, four lines explaining the retinue; next, seven lines explaining the articles of requisites; third, one line concluding with the perfection of the virtue of one's own practice. In the initial reply, if it is the true reality of the dharmakāya, there is no discrimination, so how could there be close or distant? Precisely for the sake of entering the provisional, the retinue is explained in terms of the Dharma-gates. The old interpretation of Guānhé says: In foreign countries, one who lacks parents, clan, and retinue is not a noble person. Now, according to this interpretation, it is still interpreted in terms of principle. Saying that one without a retinue is a base person refers to the biased truth and ash-like annihilation of the two vehicles, which lacks the mother of the wisdom of deliverance (prajñāpāramitā), the father of skillful means (upāya), and the retinue of the ten thousand practices and virtues; hence the *Lotus Sūtra* uses the poor son as an analogy. If it is the Mahāyāna, there are the retinue of the dharmakāya, ministers, officials, commoners, and numerous storehouses. Vimalakīrti is indeed a noble person of the Buddha Dharma; therefore he answers in verse saying that he has a retinue.