維摩經略疏 2.18

2.18

Question: How is it known that manifesting the particularly venerable body indicates the intention to preach the inconceivable dharmakāya of true-nature liberation? Answer: The Dàpǐn clarifies the particularly venerable body by using the metaphor of Mount Sumeru reflected in the ocean, which none of the other mountains can match; this sūtra is also like this. Furthermore, the Lotus Sūtra clarifies that the city where the elder resides has an awe-inspiring virtue that is particularly venerable, causing the impoverished son to flee in alarm; this was the Tathāgata displaying the particularly venerable body to preach the Avataṃsaka teaching, which those of small capacity could not bear and therefore fled far away. He then took off his necklaces and put on ragged, soiled garments; this was adopting the body of an old bhikṣu with the intention to preach the Tripiṭaka teaching. After this, their hearts gained mutual trust, and he entered and exited without difficulty; going out he manifested ragged clothes, coming in he manifested awe-inspiring virtue; this was manifesting the particularly venerable body to preach the vaipulya teaching. Inside the elder's mansion, he manifested the body of awe-inspiring virtue and ordered the impoverished son to take charge of the family estate; this was manifesting the particularly venerable body and ordering Subhūti and the others to turn the teaching and preach prajñā for the bodhisattvas. Furthermore, inside the mansion, he assembled the king and ministers to determine the natural relation of father and son: "You are truly my son, and I am truly your father"; this was the time in the Lotus Sūtra when he manifested the particularly venerable body to bestow predictions upon the voice-hearers. First seeing and fleeing far away, next entering and exiting without difficulty, next taking charge of all the goods, and finally determining the natural relation of father and son—in all, four times he manifested the noble elder adorned with necklaces. These all illustrate Śākyamuni's supreme response, particularly venerable body, whose light, color, and forms are measureless and boundless, entirely indicating the intention to preach the dharmakāya of true reality. In this vaipulya teaching, there is entering and exiting without difficulty: although when going out to the thatched hut he was seen in ragged garments, when the elder entered the mansion he was still seen manifesting the body adorned with necklaces. The necklace-adorned elder is precisely the present Buddha, reverently surrounded by a measureless assembly, manifesting the particularly venerable body.