維摩經疏 1.6

1.6

Now, within the text, collectively inquiring about manifesting illness and the empty room entails twelve questions. As for the sequence: previously there are two questions in one place, which are the questions of the World-Honoured One; later there are ten questions, which are Mañjuśrī's own questions. First, it clarifies Mañjuśrī conveying the World-Honoured One's two questions. 'Householder, is this illness bearable?'—this is the first question, asking about the gravity of the illness. 'Is medical treatment diminishing it and not increasing it?'—this is the second question, [asking if] the illness is recovering or worsening, the World-Honoured One earnestly conveying the inquiry. 'Immeasurable' conveys the person inquiring. Below, Mañjuśrī inquires on his own. In his questioning there are ten [queries]: the first eight questions inquire into Vimalakīrti's own person […]; the latter two questions inquire into the sentient beings transformed by Vimalakīrti. Question: 'Mañjuśrī's intention in coming was merely to inquire into Vimalakīrti's illness; why does he not directly inquire into Vimalakīrti's personal matter, but rather asks about sentient beings?' Answer: 'Because Vimalakīrti states, "From ignorance and craving, my illness is born; because sentient beings are ill, I manifest illness," therefore Mañjuśrī asks Vimalakīrti, on behalf of the one who manifests illness, how the minds of truly ill sentient beings are consoled, and how their illness is subdued.' Within the preceding eight questions, they are divided into three distinctions: the first three questions clarify his great compassion and skillful means; the middle two questions clarify that upon which his great compassion relies—because compassion is accomplished relying on emptiness, he asks about the room's emptiness, and because compassion is completed relying on existence, he asks about the lack of attendants; the final three questions directly clarify that the responsive illness is not real. Furthermore, the first three questions clarify only skillful means; the middle two questions clarify both real wisdom and skillful means—asking about the room's emptiness is real wisdom, and asking about the lack of attendants is skillful means; the final three questions clarify only real wisdom.