維摩經略疏 7.5

7.5

"Is it abating under treatment?" Next is proclaimed the second sentence. As for "abating under treatment," when there is illness in the world, medical treatment is necessary. Since it is for the sake of sentient beings, if sentient beings are treated, Vimalakīrti is treated. However, the illnesses of sentient beings are of three different kinds: view and thought [afflictions], ignorance of particulars, and fundamental ignorance. These three illnesses are the root of all illnesses of cause and effect within and outside the realm [of saṃsāra]. When treated with the threefold contemplation, the three illnesses are all extinguished. This is fully explained in the threefold contemplation of the *Xuányì*, and will naturally be seen when explaining the text below. It is also explained according to the four lands: First, in the Co-dwelling [Land]: (1) entering emptiness from provisionality properly treats the illnesses of view and thought of the Co-dwelling [Land]; (2) entering provisionality from emptiness properly treats the sands of the Ganges [afflictions] of the [Land with] Remainder, and laterally treats the ignorance of particulars of the Co-dwelling [Land]; (3) the correct contemplation of the Middle Way properly treats the fundamental ignorance of the [Land with] Remainder and the Retribution [Land]. A bodhisattva of sharp faculties laterally treats view, thought, and ignorance of particulars of the Co-dwelling [Land], and also laterally treats the ignorance of particulars of the [Land with] Remainder. Quiescent Light has no illness to treat. Now we explain treating the Co-dwelling Land. The *Zhì lùn* makes four types of discernment: (1) Dull faculties and heavy hindrances: this refers to dull-witted ordinary persons whose defilement of affliction is heavy and cannot be treated. (2) Dull faculties and light hindrances: like Cūḍapanthaka, who in one summer only recited a single verse, yet was able to realize the real and become a great arhat. (3) Sharp faculties and heavy hindrances: like Aṅgulimāla, who killed 999 people daily, but because his faculties were sharp, hindrances could not obstruct him, and upon seeing the Buddha he immediately awoke. (4) Sharp faculties and light hindrances: like Śāriputra, who, upon hearing Aśvajit recite a single verse on the three truths, immediately attained the first fruit. Vimalakīrti's illness is identical to these illnesses being difficult or easy to abate. As in the four alternatives, Panthaka, Aṅguli[māla], Śāriputra, and so forth are all "abating under treatment"; when considering the Land with Remainder, there is none that never abates. If the three vehicles are compared with one another, three distinctions of abating can also be made, and the provisional illness is also like this. If entering the equal dharma realm of retribution, this is of sharp faculties, having only the single hindrance of fundamental ignorance: discussed in terms of transmission through stages, there is no distinction of light and heavy; horizontally, there is only one abatement of hindrance. If considering initial resolve and past karma, one might make a discernment of two alternatives, as there are no dull faculties; the provisional illness is also like this. The Land of Eternally Quiescent Light is the ultimate stage, utterly tranquil, without these distinctions; therefore the Buddha asks, "Is it abating under treatment?"