維摩經疏 1.20

1.20

From here below explains the cultivation of great compassion. Great compassion is unconditioned compassion. In the text there are two parts: first, citing nonconceptual contemplation as the basis for cultivating compassion; second, from "When making this contemplation" onward, explaining the cultivation of compassion based on contemplation. The former citing of nonconceptual contemplation is still the aforementioned great wisdom. "That ill bodhisattva must reflect: 'Just as this illness of mine is neither real nor existent, the illnesses of sentient beings are also neither real nor existent'": the ill bodhisattva refers to bodhisattvas from the first bhūmi and above. Because they have attachment to dharmas, they are collectively termed ill. Instructing them to give rise to the mind of contemplation, it therefore says "should reflect." Below directly explains giving rise to contemplation based on the mind. "Just as this illness of mine is neither real nor existent": the afflictions of attachment to dharmas are called this illness. "Neither real" means existent; "nor existent" means empty. Contemplating the cause of this illness, it is neither empty nor existent. "The illnesses of sentient beings are also neither real nor existent": just as my illness is so, those of sentient beings are also like this; they are not definitely empty, nor definitely existent. Furthermore, "not real" means the mark of illness is not real; "not existent" means the essence of illness is not existent. Question: Why cite this nonconceptual contemplation here? What is the intention? Answer: If one wishes to cultivate great compassion, one must obtain this nonconceptual [wisdom]. If one lacked this contemplation, the compassionate mind conditioning existence might give rise to deep attachment. Due to this contemplation, great compassion complies with existence and constantly transforms sentient beings without deep attachment. The above finishes citing the nonconceptual contemplation of great wisdom as the basis for cultivating compassion.