維摩經略疏 5.38

5.38

"The Buddha told Aniruddha": seventh, commanding Aniruddha. The text has two parts: first, commanding him to inquire after the illness; second, declining as incompetent. The reason he was commanded next is that he was foremost in the divine eye among the disciples. He belonged to the kṣatriya caste and was the son of Prince Śuklodana. He is also called Āniludou or Anulouduo, just as the dialects of Chu and Xia differ. Here it is translated as 'According with Intent' (Rúyì) or 'Free from Poverty' (Wúpín). In a past life, he offered a single meal to a pratyekabuddha, and for ninety-one kalpas he enjoyed bliss according with his intent among devas and humans; hence he was called 'According with Intent'. From then on he lacked nothing; hence he was called 'Free from Poverty'. He was the Buddha's paternal cousin. When he first entered the Way, he slept excessively and was rebuked; because of this he did not sleep, and eventually lost his sight. He reported this fully to the Buddha. The Buddha said: "Sleep is food for the eyes. Just as a person loses their life if they do not eat for seven days, if one does not sleep for seven days, the life of the eyes is severed and difficult to cure. You should cultivate the divine eye to view the affairs of the world." Thereupon he cultivated meditation, attained the pure matter of the four great elements, saw with half his head, and viewed the trichiliocosm just like a fruit in the palm of his hand. As for the Buddha of the Tripiṭaka, he sees thoroughly and unobstructedly with his entire head with the divine eye. Although [Aniruddha] did not equal the Buddha, he was foremost among the śrāvakas. This is entering the Way through the mental-reckoning number [method], fully as explained above. Seeking its ultimate import deeply, it even accomplishes the aforementioned five kinds of benefits, fully as in the beginning of the chapter on Śāriputra.