維摩經疏卷第三．第六 6.40

6.40

自下一十九句明修勝行。文中有二。初有二句。立章門下有十七句明修勝行。初生死無數劫意而有勇者。生死長遠苦惱無量名無數劫。自非勇猛之心何能久處生死教化眾生也。或可。生死無量。若無勇猛之心那能超越生死。聞佛無量德志而不倦者。佛具眾德云無量德。不以難得而生懈退。決意趣求永故無倦也。此之二句立章門訖。

From here on, nineteen phrases explain the cultivation of superior practices. In the text there are two parts: first, two phrases establish the topical headings; below, seventeen phrases explain the cultivation of superior practices. First, “facing innumerable kalpas of birth-and-death with a courageous mind”: birth-and-death is long and vast, and suffering and affliction are boundless, which is called “innumerable kalpas”; without a courageous mind, how could one dwell for long in birth-and-death to transform sentient beings? Alternatively: birth-and-death is boundless; without a courageous mind, how could one transcend birth-and-death? As for “hearing of the Buddha's boundless virtues with untiring resolve”: the Buddha possesses all virtues, which is called “boundless virtues”; not generating laxity or retreat because they are difficult to attain, one resolutely strives to seek them, forever free of weariness. These two phrases conclude the establishment of the topical headings.