維摩經略疏 3.51

3.51

"When among brahmins, he was honored among brahmins, removing their conceit": "brahmin" is translated here as "external mind," with external learning passed down through generations as lofty and upright, or also as "pure conduct." In Vimalakīrti's manifest trace, his external learning was exceptional and beyond compare, so he was honored by them. Brahmins rely upon pure conduct and possess conceited minds that look down upon others; when they saw Vimalakīrti's profound learning and superior Dharma, their conceit was naturally crushed. According with the four capacities, he preached as appropriate through the methods of the four teachings, causing each to abandon conceited thoughts.