維摩經疏卷第三．第六 6.28

6.28

From "When the assembly was seated, the Buddha spoke..." downward is the second part, explaining the fragrant food as performing Buddha-work. The text has three [parts]: first, the Buddha asks Śāriputra, "Did you see the supernatural transformations of Vimalakīrti?" and he answers, "I saw them"; second, from "Ānanda addressed the Buddha: 'What we now hear...'" downward, it explains that after Vimalakīrti arrived at where the Buddha was, it again explains that the fragrant food performs Buddha-work; third, from "Ānanda addressed the Buddha: 'Unprecedented...'" downward, it analogously reveals that everything performs Buddha-work. In the former part there are two layers of questions and answers. The intent of the first question is: because Śāriputra followed Mañjuśrī to Vimalakīrti's room and fully saw what was done, the Buddha had to ask him. His answer is clear. The repeated question can be understood. In the answer, "not what intention can conceive, nor what can be measured": this means it is not what ordinary consciousness can conceive, nor what Śāriputra's mind can estimate. Nor is it what the wisdom of the masters of the two vehicles can measure.