維摩經略疏 6.86

6.86

From "The Dharma gift... assembly" is the third part: Vimalakīrti's brief reply. The assembly of the Dharma gift has no before or after; this is contemplating the giving of form and so forth, where all dharmas tend toward form—that is, form fully possesses the dharmas of the ten realms, which is called Dharma. Using this to make offerings to the Buddha is itself giving the Dharma, just as a wish-fulfilling jewel contains all treasures. As for those that are not distinct: the giver and the receiver differ only in appearance; this is like the three teachings. If both the giver and the receiver know that it fully possesses treasures, this is like the perfect teaching. Therefore the Great Sūtra says: "There are two kinds of people who obtain great blessings and benefit: first, those who give in accordance with the Dharma; second, those who receive in accordance with the Dharma." This is the assembly of the Dharma gift. "Without before or after": the prior limit is the living beings of the six destinies of birth-and-death; the posterior limit is the four kinds of noble persons of nirvāṇa. If one contemplates the three wheels as one suchness, non-dual and all being the Middle Way, not being the prior or posterior limits, and makes offerings to all living beings simultaneously, this is called the assembly of the Dharma gift. The Middle is not the two extremes, yet can illuminate both the six destinies and the four noble ones; these ten comprehensively gather all living beings. When the bodhisattva, by giving a single form, causes all living beings to see the Middle, this is the great cause and condition to cause living beings to open, display, awaken to, and enter; hence it is said that he gives to all. Furthermore, if living beings have not yet obtained the great benefit, each obtains the benefit of the Dharma according to their capacities and conditions; this is called giving to all. Thus, being neither provisional nor real, yet capable of both the provisional and the real, illuminating both kinds of giving, thought after thought extinguished into stillness, one enters the buddha's knowledge and vision; this is called the assembly of the Dharma gift.