維摩經疏卷第三．第六 6.57

6.57

In the third part, Vimalakīrti's explanation, the text has five sentences. First, he asks: “Does light join with darkness?” Second, the answer is: “They do not join.” “He said: ‘When light appears, there is no darkness’”: this explains the “not joining” above, analogizing intrinsic purity. Third, from “Now why does the sun...” below, he asks about the meaning of the sun's movement. Fourth, from “Wishing to illuminate with brightness...” below, he explains the meaning of the sun's movement, analogizing the ability to purify others. Fifth, Vimalakīrti draws upon the answer to reveal the benefit of transformation: “A bodhisattva is like this; although born in an impure Buddha-land, it is to transform sentient beings” matches the sun; “when light appears, it does not join with folly and darkness” matches “there is no darkness”; from “only eradicating sentient beings...” below matches “wishing to illuminate with brightness to dispel darkness for them.”