維摩經疏卷第三．第六 3.11

3.11

In the third section, the explanation: from "Why?" onward is the general inquiry; from "I recall..." onward is the detailed explanation. Within the detailed explanation there are three parts: first, setting forth the previous occasion of being rebuked; second, from "At that time Vimalakīrti..." onward, explaining the aspects of gain and loss in his teaching and rebuke; third, explaining the benefits of the teaching. As for "preached the Dharma for the householders": although the sūtra text has no elaboration, in terms of the underlying principle, he must have preached on giving, precepts, cultivating merit, and the like, or preached the Hīnayāna Dharma of the emptiness of the person, and so forth. The small did not correspond to the great, and on this account he was rebuked. As the saying goes: the white-robed householders had long since generated the great aspiration, yet Maudgalyāyana, failing to recognize their spiritual capacity, preached a lesser Dharma to them. Because the medicine of the Dharma was mismatched, he was rebuked. In the aspect of teaching and rebuke below, first comes the rebuke, followed by the instruction. Within the rebuke, "You should not speak as you do, Venerable Sir": the householders ought to have heard the Mahāyāna dharmatā, yet he spoke of phenomena with signs. First, what he preached did not accord with the Dharma; second, what he preached was not suited to the faculties [of the audience]. These two failures to accord encompass four faults: first, not knowing the faculties; second, not penetrating the profound meaning; third, lacking great compassion; fourth, not repaying the Buddha's kindness. If distinguished in terms of practice, Maudgalyāyana had cultivated and attained the practice of realization; but because this person preached such dharmas as giving and precepts without conforming to the true Dharma, [Vimalakīrti] now instructs him in the two emptinesses.