維摩經義記卷第四 4.64

4.64

"The Buddha told Śāriputra, 'Do you see the world Abhirati and Akṣobhya Buddha?'" and so forth marks the third major division, which clarifies the transmission. The reason he asks Śāriputra whether he sees it is to make him, by seeing, rejoice in what he has heard and praise the gravity of the sūtra. It also clarifies the power of transmission and hearing the sūtra: although one does not witness the present events, the merit of hearing the sūtra matches the benefit of seeing it with one's own eyes. Within this, it is divided into three sections. First, from here down to the Chapter on the Dharma Offering, clarifies that on the verge of the entrustment, one first shows the gravity of the sūtra: with respect to the person, the person is venerated; with respect to the place, the place is precious. Second, the Chapter on the Dharma Offering clarifies that the Tathāgata confirms Śakra Devānāmindra's praise of the sūtra's gravity and the person's gravity by weighing them: material offerings are not equal to the Dharma offering; thus he seals what Vimalakīrti has spoken. Third, the chapter on entrustment directly clarifies entrusting it to Maitreya and Ānanda to make it spread down through ten thousand generations without cessation. From "The Buddha told Śāriputra" down to the end of the chapter clarifies that Śāriputra, a renunciant person, explains transmission through the three wisdoms. From the beginning of the chapter down to "For those who already have faith, I shall provide protection," clarifies that the heavenly emperor, a householder in white robes, also explains transmission through the three wisdoms. In the first section, "We have greatly obtained good benefit by gaining sight of this person, drawing near to him and making offerings," is about to clarify the transmission through the three wisdoms, first expressing that having already gained sight of Vimalakīrti, he has obtained good benefit. "Those sentient beings who, whether in the present or after the Buddha's extinction, hear this sūtra will also obtain good benefit" brings out the wisdom of hearing. "How much more so those who, having heard it, believe and understand, accept and uphold, read and recite it!" brings out the wisdom of reflection. "Those who practice according to what is taught" clarifies the wisdom of cultivation. "If someone holds this sūtra in hand, he has already obtained the treasury of Dharma-jewels": the sūtra scroll is the vessel of the wisdom of hearing, completing the previous point that the wisdom of hearing is precious; if holding it in hand still yields the treasury of jewels, how much more so when, having heard it, one receives it in one's bosom! "If there are those who read, recite, explain its meaning, and practice according to what is taught": this takes up the person who praises, recites, and adopts the wisdom of cultivation—"they will be protected and remembered by all Buddhas." This directly clarifies the retribution of the wisdom of cultivation: to transmit this Dharma is to be aided and protected by the Tathāgata's awe-inspiring power, hence called "protected"; never forgetting it in mind is called "remembered." "Whoever makes offerings to such a person should know that he is thereby making offerings to the Buddha" clarifies that with respect to the person, the person is venerated: making offerings to one who upholds the sūtra is no different from making offerings to the Buddha; this person transmits the Buddha's seat. "Whoever copies and maintains this sūtra scroll, know that in his room there is the Tathāgata": this is that with respect to the place, the place is precious. Because this sūtra broadly clarifies the Tathāgata's dharmakāya, it says that in his room there is the Tathāgata. The place is still precious; how much more so the person who upholds the sūtra! In principle he must be venerated. "If one hears this sūtra and is able to rejoice in accord with it, this person thereby takes hold of all-knowledge" clarifies the retribution of the wisdom of hearing: relying on the understanding from this wisdom of hearing, one ultimately evokes the Buddha-fruit of all-knowledge. "If someone believes" and so forth clarifies the retribution of the wisdom of reflection: this person will be prophesied by all Buddhas to attain unsurpassed bodhi.