維摩經疏卷第三．第六 3.33

3.33

From "At that time, Vimalakīrti..." downward broadly clarifies the merits and faults, and the manner of instruction and reprimand. In the text there are three parts: first, it clarifies the manner of instruction and reprimand by overturning faults and revealing attainments; second, from "At that time, I..." downward, it clarifies Subhūti's personal expression of yielding and Vimalakīrti's bestowing of instruction; third, from "When this Dharma was expounded..." downward, it clarifies the benefits of the instruction and reprimand. In the former part, Vimalakīrti taking the bowl and filling it with food is the occasion for the instruction and reprimand. Why did Vimalakīrti take the bowl and fill it with food, yet not give it to him? There are roughly three reasons: first, he took the bowl to exhaust the discussion; if he did not take the bowl, [Subhūti] encountering sharp challenges would be frightened and abandon it and leave; second, if he did not fill it with alms, he feared incurring the fault of stinginess; by broadly opening the gate of giving, he manifested that he himself had no begrudging; third, he lodged the discussion in the food as an opening point; therefore he first took the bowl and filled it with food. From "Only, Subhūti..." downward directly clarifies the instruction and reprimand. In the text there are four points: first, reprimanding his inequality regarding food; second, from "not severing lust..." downward, his inequality regarding bondage and liberation; third, from "not seeing the Buddha..." downward, his inequality regarding teachers and teachings; fourth, from "entering into wrong views..." downward, his inequality regarding all dharmas. Overturning these four faults, the instruction accomplishes four virtues. The overall intent of the reprimand turns back to reprove Subhūti.