維摩經疏卷第三．第六 3.2

3.2

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.