淨名經集解關中疏 2.47

2.47

At that time, Mañjuśrī asked Vimalakīrti, saying: "How should a bodhisattva comfort and console a sick bodhisattva?" This is the second [section], inquiring about the actual illness of those to be converted; the text has two parts. First, he asks about comforting and consoling; second, he asks about subduing. Why are there these two questions? [Seng]zhao says: "With skilled consolations outwardly and skilled subduing inwardly, one can then traverse birth and death, sharing illness with the multitude of beings." [Seng]rui says: "The illness of ordinary persons is tormented by grief and suffering, causing unrest. Being ill, sorrow and grief arise; being pressed by illness, suffering, anguish, and a grieving mind arise. Outward distress requires hearing the Dharma to [comfort] the sorrowful and anguished mind; inward urgency should contemplate emptiness to subdue oneself." [Seng]zhao says: "Comforting a sick person should have originated from Mañjuśrī, but he instead asks Jingming because the assembled crowd had focused their minds upon [Vimalakīrti], and also to take testimony from the sick person is indeed the means to examine the meeting of consolation. Intending to elucidate the Great Vehicle's path without realization to comfort the newly assembled bodhisattvas who manifest illness, he therefore raises this question."