維摩經疏卷第三．第六 3.2

3.2

此品之內略以三門分別。一辯來意。二解品名。三釋文義。明來意者。然聖人冥通權道無二居士為眾生而現疾。如來亦懷悲而遣問。因共往來得通化導利益事廣。故此品來。又前所明般若大悲與眾德合行名為方便。此品即彰飛彼二乘諸小菩薩之所能知。今欲對之顯其勝德使其捨劣修勝。故此品來。或可前品之中因凡問疾明化凡法。此品之內因聖問疾明化聖法。教聖之中先教聲聞。故此品也。

Within this chapter, there is a brief analysis into three sections: first, explaining the reason for its occurrence; second, interpreting the chapter title; third, explaining the meaning of the text. Regarding explaining the reason for its occurrence: The holy man secretly accords with the way of upāya, without duality; the layman manifests illness for the sake of sentient beings, and the Tathāgata also harbors compassion and sends inquiries. Because of their mutual interaction, the work of teaching, guiding, and benefiting becomes extensive. Therefore this chapter comes next. Furthermore, that which was previously explained—prajñā and great compassion conjoined in practice with the multitude of virtues—is called upāya. This chapter precisely reveals that it is beyond what those of the two vehicles and the various minor bodhisattvas can understand. Now, desiring to confront them to reveal his superior virtues and cause them to renounce the inferior and cultivate the superior, this chapter comes next. Alternatively, in the previous chapter, because ordinary beings inquired about the illness, the method of transforming ordinary beings was explained; within this chapter, because the holy inquiry about the illness is made, the method of transforming the holy is explained. Among teaching the holy, the śrāvakas are taught first. Hence this chapter.