維摩經略疏 3.48

3.48

"When among elders, he was honored among elders, preaching for them the supreme Dharma": from here downward praises his honorable and supreme virtue, using the expedient means of the oral secret to benefit beings. The Mahāsattva has no fixed form and manifests among both the high and the low; now mentioning only the honorable and supreme is to complete the praise of his virtues. His virtue was a model for beings, standing above the multitude of worthies. As for "honored among elders": worldly elders cherish superiority within their villages, and therefore consider themselves noble. The Mahāsattva's trace was identical to them, but his virtue surpassed theirs; thus he was honored by them. First he preached the supreme worldly Dharma to make them all bow and submit; next, responding to the four capacities, he preached the four supreme Dharmas; since he was honored by them, none failed to comply and follow, leading them to the inconceivable four lands.