維摩經疏卷第三．第六 6.78

6.78

Third, regarding dividing the text and explaining it, the text has two parts: 1. The Buddha entrusts the true Dharma for its propagation; 2. From "after the Buddha spoke" onward, the great assembly hears the Dharma, rejoices, and practices it. In the first part, the persons entrusted are only two, but the propagators are four. As for the persons entrusted: first, it is entrusted to Maitreya; second, it is entrusted to Ānanda. Question: The worthy and noble ones are numerous; why is it specifically entrusted to these two? Answer: Vimalakīrti is not a bodhisattva of this world, so it is not entrusted to him. Mañjuśrī roams without a fixed place, so it is also not entrusted to him. It is entrusted to Maitreya because he will attain buddhahood in this world and mature sentient beings; now, with divine power invisibly conferring protection, his meritorious work will be completed. Ānanda is the one who transmits the Dharma treasury; by having him compile and broadly transmit it, he can make it widely known, so it had to be entrusted to him. As for the propagators being four: 1. Maitreya Bodhisattva receives the instruction and propagates it; 2. All the other bodhisattvas vow of themselves to proclaim and propagate it; 3. The four heavenly kings vow of themselves to protect and propagate it; 4. Ānanda receives the instruction and transmits it. In the first part, there are three sections: First, up to "and explain it extensively for them," it explains the intention of entrustment. Second, from "Maitreya, you should know that bodhisattvas have two characteristics" onward, he presents their virtues and faults, urging them to cultivate [the former] and abandon [the latter]. Third, from "Maitreya Bodhisattva, having heard this spoken" onward, he praises the Dharma he heard and encourages people to cultivate and study it. Within the preceding text, it is further divided into three: 1. Entrusting with the Dharma; 2. Clarifying the time and period for propagating the Dharma; 3. From "Why is this?" onward, explaining the intention of the entrustment. In the first, "entrusting to you the bodhi accumulated over immeasurable billions of kalpas" directly explains the entrustment of this sūtra. It proclaims the true virtues of bodhi, and following what is taught, names the sūtra: it is named "the accumulated anuttarā bodhi." Hence the preceding sūtra says: "This sūtra extensively explains the bodhi of past, future, and present buddhas." Or it may be that this sūtra is able to generate bodhi, and the accumulated bodhi is generated from this sūtra; named after what it generates, it is called "the accumulated anuttarā bodhi." Hence the preceding sūtra says: "The bodhi of all buddhas is all generated from this." Second, "sūtras of this kind, after the Buddha's nirvāṇa" onward explains the time and period for propagating the Dharma. "Sūtras of this kind" resumes what was previously entrusted; "kind" means "such as" or "category." "After the Buddha's nirvāṇa, in the final age" is the time of propagation. Because it is difficult to propagate in the final age, he must urge them. "You all should, with divine power, broadly propagate" is the direct exhortation. "Transmit it throughout Jambudvīpa" indicates the place of propagation. Because sentient beings in Jambudvīpa are foremost in practicing the Dharma, it is specifically mentioned. "Do not let it be cut off" is the admonition to keep it constantly circulating. Third, from "Why is this?" onward explains the intention of the exhortation. First, it poses a question: What is the reason for urging you to transmit it? Below, he replies and explains it. Therein, it first explains the harm of not transmitting it: in the future there will be good men, good women, dragons, and so forth who generate the bodhi-mind and delight in the Great Dharma; if they are not allowed to hear sūtras such as this, they will lose the wholesome benefit: this is the harm. Below, it explains the benefit of transmitting: if people of this kind hear sūtras such as this, they will certainly have much faith and joy: this is the benefit. "People of this kind" resumes the aforementioned people of the future who generate the mind. "Hearing this sūtra, they will certainly have much faith and joy, generate a sense of its rarity, and receive it atop their heads": this is the benefit of one's own practice. "Recalling that the sūtra is rare, and according to what beings may benefit from, explaining it extensively for them": this is the benefit of transforming others. The above is the Tathāgata directly entrusting with the Dharma.