維摩經疏卷第三．第六 6.69

6.69

自下第二約對法供以顯不及。於中有二。一問答廣釋法之供養勝前財供二佛告天帝王子月蓋聞是法下彰法供養勝財供養。二佛告天帝王子月蓋聞是法下彰法供養有大勝益。悟柔順忍修行法供。前中別有三番問答。初中兩句。一王子月蓋獨坐思惟寧有供養殊過此者。二以神通下以佛神力空聲引導法供為勝。第二斷中句亦有二。一月蓋王子請問何謂法供。二空天教問藥王如來。第三斷中文亦有二。一王子月蓋行詣藥王請問法供。二如來為說。說中初言法供養者。標其所請下正辯。有二。一出法體。二若聞如是等經已下約對前法以明供養。明法體中文別有二。一辯法體相。二能令眾生坐道場下顯其法勝。

From here below is the second [part], contrasting it with the offering of Dharma to show that [material offering] falls short. Within this there are two parts: 1. questions and answers broadly explaining that the offering of Dharma surpasses the preceding material offerings; 2. from “The Buddha told Śakra: When Prince Candracchattra heard this Dharma” below, revealing that the offering of Dharma has great and superior benefits: awakening to compliant tolerance and practicing the offering of Dharma. Within the first there are distinctively three rounds of questions and answers. In the first there are two sentences: 1. Prince Candracchattra, sitting alone, contemplated: “Could there be any offering superior to this?” 2. From “By the supernormal power” below, by the Buddha's supernormal power, a voice in the sky guided him, [stating that] the offering of Dharma is superior. In the second section, the sentences also have two parts: 1. Prince Candracchattra asked: “What is called the offering of Dharma?” 2. The god in the sky instructed him to ask Bhaiṣajyarāja Tathāgata. In the third section, the text also has two parts: 1. Prince Candracchattra went to Bhaiṣajyarāja and asked about the offering of Dharma; 2. the Tathāgata explained it for him. Within the explanation, it first says: “As for the offering of Dharma...”, marking what was asked; below it directly explains it. There are two parts: 1. setting forth the essence of the Dharma; 2. from “If having heard sūtras such as these” below, contrasting it with the preceding Dharma to explain the offering. Within the explanation of the essence of the Dharma, the text is divided into two parts: 1. distinguishing the characteristics of the essence of the Dharma; 2. from “It is able to cause sentient beings to sit upon the bodhimanda” below, revealing the superiority of the Dharma.