維摩經義記卷第四 4.34

4.34

From Vimalakīrti's words onwards is the seventh major section. It confirms their words. He praises the great compassion of the bodhisattvas of this land as solid and firm, truly as they have spoken, confirming their words. From “However, their one lifetime…” onwards, it explains that cultivation in an impure land is superior to that in a pure land. Now, wisdom arises by relying on folly, and good is generated from evil. Because evil is abundant, the generation of good is intense; because foolishness is great, the arising of wisdom is profound. These all rely on external conditions as a strong condition, and only then can the firmness of internal understanding be brought forth. Therefore it is said that cultivation for one lifetime in this realm surpasses the practice of many kalpas in a pure land. From “Why is this?” onwards, it explains the reason why cultivation in an impure land surpasses a pure one. Why is cultivation in an impure land superior to a pure land? It explains that in the impure land of Sahā, there are briefly ten good dharmas that do not exist in the pure land. “Gathering the poor through generosity” reveals the essence of these ten matters. In an impure land, because there is poverty, one can practice the perfection of generosity to completion; in a pure land, there is no poverty or strife, and it lacks this practice; therefore it explains that the impure surpasses the pure. Just like a good physician in the world who, during an age of widespread disease, achieves mastery of medical arts: by giving good medicine for the disease, the patients are all cured. This is to illustrate that when a bodhisattva dwells in an impure land to transform beings, it is also like this: with manifold practices flourishing, they can propagate the ten dharmas, acting as great medicine kings to rescue and cross over sentient beings; therefore, they can surpass tens of thousands of kalpas, eliminating the sickness of the kleśas and saṃsāra. These words are all for the sake of beginners in the impure land, so that they will exert their aspirations to the utmost.