金光明最勝王經疏 2.37

2.37

Commentary: The four tathāgatas descending upon the lotus seats symbolizes the dharma body, and the four buddhas represent the four virtues. Why does a buddha appear in each of the four directions to represent the four virtues? Answer: As stated in the sūtra, the four directions symbolize arising, abiding, changing, and ceasing, which are the characteristics of the conditioned; the four virtues overturn these, being without arising, abiding, changing, or ceasing, and therefore they appear in the four directions. Question: The Dharma can be preached in any of the four postures; why must they appear seated cross-legged? Answer: Because they appear according to what suits and pleases those capacities. According to the thirtieth fascicle of the *Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra*, there are five reasons: first, because by drawing in the body one quickly gives rise to pliancy; second, because by quiet sitting one can abide for a long time; third, because this quiet sitting is an exclusive phenomenon; fourth, because by this quiet sitting one's physical form is upright and dignified; fifth, because this quiet sitting is commonly approved by the buddhas and their disciples. According to the *Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa*, it is in order to subdue māras. That treatise says: "Seeing even a painting of one sitting cross-legged, the king of māras is terrified of himself; how much more so when a person entering the path sits upright without wavering!" Asaṅga's *Prajñāpāramitā-śāstra* says: "Only one who sits in tranquility can awaken to and preach all dharmas. This posture accords with abiding in the composure of absorption. It shows that being able to awaken to all dharmas and being able to preach all dharmas necessarily depends on attaining absorption, and attaining absorption depends on sitting."