淨名經集解關中疏 2.48

2.48

Vimalakīrti said: "Speak of the body being impermanent, but do not speak of revulsion and detachment from the body. Speak of the body having suffering, but do not speak of delighting in nirvāṇa. Speak of the body being devoid of self, yet speak of teaching and guiding sentient beings. Speak of the body being empty and tranquil, but do not speak of ultimate extinguishment." These two [parts contain] the reply, whose text is in four parts: first, consoling with reference to principle; second, consoling with reference to generating great compassion; third, consoling with reference to seeking the great fruit; fourth, concluding the initial enumeration of the four [aspects] such as impermanence. [Seng]zhao says: "The method of consolation should speak to the sick person of the body being impermanent to remove their greed and attachment; it should not speak of revulsion and detachment, causing them to grasp realization. Those who do not contemplate impermanence and do not feel revulsion are ordinary persons; those who contemplate impermanence and feel revulsion are the two vehicles; those who contemplate impermanence but do not feel revulsion are bodhisattvas. Therefore, one should console beginner students, causing them to settle their minds, abide in illness to rescue the multitude of beings, neither reviling birth and death nor delighting in nirvāṇa. This is the mahāsattva's method of consolation." Regarding 'Speak of the body having suffering,' etc., [Seng]zhao says: "Although seeing suffering, one does not delight in the bliss of nirvāṇa; although knowing selflessness, one does not lack teaching and guiding on account of sentient beings being empty; although seeing the body's emptiness, one does not seize the ultimate path of nirvāṇa. Hence, one can peacefully abide in birth and death, sharing illness with sentient beings. Therefore, the comforter proclaims what should be practiced, and does not proclaim what should not be practiced."