佛說盂蘭盆經疏 2.12

2.12

This person's clan name was Mahāmaudgalyāyana, which in the language of Tang means the 'Mung-Bean Clan' (Luxiu shi). In that country, in high antiquity, there was an immortal who constantly ate mung beans; the Venerable One was of his lineage. His personal name was Nyagrodha (Nijulutuo), which is the name of a tree. Because the Venerable One's two parents gave birth to him after sacrificing to the spirit of this tree, he was named after it. He was the son of a prime minister in the city of Rājagṛha. The people of the time valued his lineage, which is why they referred to him by his clan name. As for 'just when he had attained the six superknowledges': 'just when' means at the very beginning. Having just attained the noble path, he immediately wished to deliver his two parents, because it was originally on account of his parents that he cultivated the path. Although the path is without difference, original vows are each distinct; hence, it is not necessarily so for all noble ones. As for the six superknowledges: first, the superknowledge of the domain of psychic power (ṛddhi-viṣaya-jñāna), because one realizes psychic domains through wisdom. It is also called the superknowledge of wish-fulfillment (ṛddhividhi-jñāna), because one's body conforms to one's wish, arriving wherever one intends to go. Second, the superknowledge of the divine eye (divya-cakṣus); third, the superknowledge of the divine ear (divya-śrotra), which means being able to see and hear forms and sounds, whether near or far, inside or outside obstructions. Fourth, the superknowledge of past lives (pūrvanivāsānusmṛti-jñāna), being able to know past lifetimes, original births, and past affairs. Fifth, the superknowledge of others' minds (paracitta-jñāna), which means being able to know all minds, whether in concentration or distraction, with outflows or without outflows. Sixth, the superknowledge of the exhaustion of outflows (āsravakṣaya-jñāna), which means being able to know that outflows within one's body are exhausted. Because all six are unimpeded, they are collectively called 'superknowledges' (abhijñā).