維摩經疏卷第三．第六 6.16

6.16

From "At that time Vimalakīrti asked the assembly" below is the second [section], showing the procurement of the supreme food. Within this text there are three parts: first, explaining that Vimalakīrti procures the food for the assembly; second, explaining that that Buddha immediately bestows it in response; third, having obtained the food, he universally offers it to the great assembly. Within the first part there are two: first, he enjoins the assembly to procure the food; second, from "Thereupon" below, the assembly remains silent as they are incapable, so he himself dispatches an emanation to fetch it. Within the first part there are four phrases: First, Vimalakīrti enjoins the assembly to procure the food, thus asking: "Benevolent bodhisattvas, who can fetch (致) that Buddha's rice?" "Fetch" (致) has the sense of conveying, carrying, or carting. It is also said: "Fetch" means to reach or to arrive; who is able to reach that Buddha's place to fetch the rice? Second, because of Mañjuśrī's majestic supernatural power, he causes the assembly to remain silent, wishing to have Vimalakīrti go and fetch it himself so as to suit his intention to transform [beings], not meaning that the great assembly lacks the power. Third, it clarifies Vimalakīrti's teasing in return: having enjoined them, the many virtuous and benevolent ones were incapable of fetching the food, which could be attached to exceedingly; hence he now teases them in return: "Benevolent ones, is this great assembly not ashamed?" Fourth, Mañjuśrī resolves the fault for the assembly, citing the Buddha as proof: "As the Buddha has said: 'Do not strike or slight beginners.'" Because the assembly are beginners whose virtue of liberation is incapable of going to fetch it, one should not lightly disregard them.