維摩經略疏 5.147

5.147

Question: The three characteristics or four characteristics do not mention "aging"; why is it now said that the Buddha spoke of "also aging"? Answer: Among the four characteristics there is difference; aging is just difference. The reason he cited aging rather than abiding was that Maitreya grasped at the characteristic of abiding among the three or four characteristics spoken of by the Buddha, and on the basis of this characteristic of abiding received a prophecy in the present. Vimalakīrti in turn cited the Buddha's words, that among the three characteristics there is only aging and no abiding, in order to prove that the present has no abiding, and that one cannot receive a future prophecy on the basis of the present; if the benevolent one does not accept this, he goes against the Buddha's words. However, although in the present there are sequential times, the three characteristics are rapid. Even if one speaks of abiding, the Buddha said "also ages." If abiding is aging, it is the characteristic of change and difference. Since there is no fixed characteristic of abiding, how could one receive a future prophecy on the basis of this? Some masters claim that Vimalakīrti used emptiness to refute the receiving of prophecy. This view contradicts the fundamental tenets. Examining the sūtra text, it actually uses the Tripiṭaka teaching of arising and ceasing to refute it; how could it be using emptiness?