維摩經略疏 2.8

2.8

Second, explaining the sūtra text. Concerning the mixed assembly, there are four: first, the Brahmā deva assembly; second, the Śakra deva assembly; third, the eight classes assembly; fourth, the fourfold assembly. First, "ten thousand Brahmā heavenly kings": Brahmā is a Western sound, translated here as "apart from desire" or "pure conduct". The Brahmā king is the lord of Sahā, dwelling in the intermediate stage of the first dhyāna. The Abhidharma says: "From the second dhyāna upward, because there is no faculty of speech, the law of kings is not established." The Yingluo [sūtra] says that every dhyāna has a Brahmā king. We now say that they merely cultivate the immeasurable minds further so their retribution is superior, making them kings, but there is no governing rule. In the first dhyāna there are coarse and subtle examination and speech, so there is governance; hence he is made the lord of the world. This is because in the past they were strict in both precepts and vehicle that they lead the assembly of the first dhyāna to come hear the Dharma. As for responding manifestations, abiding in the White Samādhi and perfumed by the power of various samādhis, they are born in the first dhyāna to guide the actual Brahmā assembly to come hear the Dharma. Śikhin is translated here as "fire" or "fire head", and also called "snail-chignon" because his uṣṇīṣa resembles a snail[-shell]. Looking to the preface of the Lotus Sūtra, he is perhaps the king of the second dhyāna. The word "and so forth" encompasses the third and fourth dhyānas. The actual practitioners can be understood. As for the responding manifestations, they abide in the three samādhis of Dual, Thunderous Sound, and Downpour of Rain to guide the various Brahmā assemblies to come.