肇論疏 2.51

2.51

The reply letter also has three chapters: first, inquiring after well-being; second, the direct reply; third, the general conclusion. Now, the first: within the inquiry after well-being there are actually two letters, first an abridged one and then an expanded one. Why this is so is that the ancients, when writing letters, always had repetitions, first abridged and then expanded, as was customary at the time. Now, speaking of "not having met face to face in the past": these are words from the old Vimalakīrtinirdeśa. That sūtra says: Vimalakīrti said to Mañjuśrī, "Not having met face to face in the past, you have deigned to come and see me." The meaning is that in the past they had never met face to face; since they had never met face to face, "my longing thoughts have been wearying." Zhu (佇) means to await. Yong (用) means because of (以). "Opening and perusing it repeatedly, I am delighted as if meeting face to face for a brief moment": perusing the incoming letter and inquiries, he rejoiced as if briefly meeting face to face. From "The cool breeze arrives in season..." onward: the Erya says, "The cool breeze is the north wind." Here it means that speaking in terms of direction, it is called the north wind; speaking in terms of season, it is called the autumn wind. Jie (屆) means to arrive. Jia (佳) means good.