維摩經略疏垂裕記 2.12

2.12

Fifth, the place where the sūtra was heard, which has two parts: first, outlining the intention and dividing the sections. Second, explaining the meaning according to the sections, which has two parts: first, directly explaining the place, which has two parts: first, general explanation of the place, which has three parts: first, in terms of phenomena. The country of Vaiśālī is south of the Ganges, within the boundary of Central India. The four meanings in the text are just the four worldly siddhāntas: being majestic and pure makes those who see it joyful, which is the worldly [siddhānta]; non-glutinous rice sustains life, which is generating goodness in people; being level and straight rather than slanted or curved is the counteractive destroying of evil; loving and delighting in the correct path is the ultimate truth [siddhānta]. Benevolence, righteousness, and the correct path are worldly principles. "Whetstone-straight" means level and straight. The pronunciation of di (whetstone) is zhi. Kong Anguo's commentary on the "Tribute of Yu" says: "Di is finer than li; both are grindstones." In "loving the path," [loving] is in the departing tone, meaning earnest diligence. Regarding "the five hundred elders," etc.: there are five hundred clans in total, all transmitting the throne in turn as rulers of the state.