維摩經略疏 3.58

3.58

"When among the World Guardians, he was honored among the World Guardians, protecting all sentient beings": the gods of the Four Heavenly Kings abide midway up Mount Sumeru on four ledges, each ruling over two classes of spirits and ghosts to prevent them from harming the people of the four continents. The Mahāsattva's trace was identical to theirs, yet his compassion in protecting beings surpassed theirs; therefore he was honored by them. Preaching the Dharma as appropriate according to their capacities, he caused them to give rise to the four vows; protecting sentient beings of the four roots of goodness to cultivate the wisdom of the four truths is precisely the Four Kings. Each truth has two classes of spirits and ghosts, views and thoughts; gathering them so that they do not disturb the mental factors of goodness is precisely protecting all sentient beings. Responding to conditions, he preached the four teachings, causing them to protect the right Dharma produced by the four kinds of four truths. Each of the matters above is a preliminary prelude to leading beings to be born in the inconceivable four lands; let the speaker understand this deeply.