說無垢稱經疏 4.100

4.100

Commentary: The declining words below also have three parts; this generally presents that his path was humbled. The Sūtra on the Released Bowl says: 'Maitreya said to Mañjuśrī: "Even hundreds of thousands of kotis of those like you could not know the lifting and lowering of my foot."' How could someone bound to one more birth have his path humbled by an ordinary stream? It is truly because those advanced in virtue and possessing prior knowledge defer prestige to the superior person, and hence fictively put forward words of being humbled previously. Now that he was commanded to respond, it is not that Maitreya was truly humbled. In the past, he spoke of non-retrogression to make them seek it, and [Vimalakīrti] spoke of the signless as the entrance. Now, having made a statement on conditions, his path was humbled at the time, hence he declined as incompetent.