維摩經疏 1.18

1.18

上來由序。自下約對不思議德悉為正宗。如勝鬘經嘆佛功德正宗所收。此亦應然。無勞致疑。此正宗中文別有二。一因寶積獻蓋如來顯示不思議德令人願求。二寶積說已白佛已下因寶積啟請如來宣說淨土因果令人習學。前即是其法身因果。後即是其淨土因果。初之一段望前為正。望後仍有起發之義。故亦名序由。其蓋中現十方國。起後所說淨土因果故得名序。於中有三。一寶積等獻蓋為由。第二如來合蓋現變。三寶積等觀之敬嘆以顯願求。初中爾時獻蓋時也。當爾佛在菴羅薗時。次舉獻人。毘耶離城出其生處。有長者子標別其人。名曰寶積厈其名諱。與五百等兼列其眾。下明獻蓋時。蓋諸佛獻奉方共便供養佛。正明獻蓋。

The above was the preface. From here down, the treatise on the inconceivable virtues all constitutes the main body of the scripture. Just as the Śrīmālādevīsiṃhanāda-sūtra's praise of the Buddha's virtues is subsumed under its main body, this text should also be regarded in the same way; there is no need to raise doubts. Within this main body, the text is divided into two parts: first, occasioned by Ratnakūṭa presenting the parasols, the Tathāgata displays inconceivable virtues to cause people to aspire and seek them; second, after Ratnakūṭa speaks, from 'addressed the Buddha' downward, occasioned by Ratnakūṭa's request, the Tathāgata proclaims the cause and effect of the pure land to cause people to practice and study. The former is the cause and effect of the dharmakāya; the latter is the cause and effect of the pure land. The first passage, looking back at what preceded it, is the main body; looking forward to what follows, it still possesses the function of initiating and introducing, and is therefore also called a preface. Because the realms of the ten directions appear within the parasol, introducing the subsequent exposition of the cause and effect of the pure land, it can be called a preface. Therein are three parts: first, Ratnakūṭa and others presenting the parasols serves as the occasion; second, the Tathāgata merges the parasols and manifests a transformation; third, Ratnakūṭa and others, seeing this, reverently praise it to express their aspiration and seeking. In the first part, 'at that time' is the time when the parasols were presented, precisely when the Buddha was in the Āmrapālīvana. Next, the persons making the offering are cited: 'in the city of Vaiśālī' reveals their birthplace; 'there was an elder's son' identifies the person; 'named Ratnakūṭa' discloses his personal name; 'together with five hundred' lists his company. Below explains the presentation of the parasols: holding the parasols, they presented and offered them to the Buddha, directly presenting the parasols.