爾時維摩詰謂衆菩薩言 諸仁者 云何菩薩入不二法門 各隨所樂說之 衆菩薩各說已 問文殊師利 何等是菩薩入不二法門 文殊師利曰 如我意者 於一切法 無言無說 無示無識 離諸問答 是爲入不二法門 於是文殊師利問維摩詰 我等各自說已 仁者當說 何等是菩薩入不二法門 時維摩詰默然無言 文殊師利歎曰 善哉善哉 乃至無有文字語言 是眞入不二法門
ěr shí wéi mó jié wèi zhòng pú sà yán zhū rén zhě yún hé pú sà rù bù èr fǎ mén gè suí suǒ lè shuō zhī zhòng pú sà gè shuō yǐ wèn wén shū shī lì hé děng shì pú sà rù bù èr fǎ mén wén shū shī lì yuē rú wǒ yì zhě yú yī qiē fǎ wú yán wú shuō wú shì wú shí lí zhū wèn dá shì wéi rù bù èr fǎ mén yú shì wén shū shī lì wèn wéi mó jié wǒ děng gè zì shuō yǐ rén zhě dāng shuō hé děng shì pú sà rù bù èr fǎ mén shí wéi mó jié mò rán wú yán wén shū shī lì tàn yuē shàn zāi shàn zāi nǎi zhì wú yǒu wén zì yǔ yán shì zhēn rù bù èr fǎ mén
Key Message
The most complete way to reveal what cannot be expressed in words is silence. Vimalakīrti's silence transmits the non-dual truth — transcending all dualisms — more deeply than any words.
▸The 'Chapter on the Dharma-Gate of Non-Duality' (不二法門品) is the most famous and most quoted chapter in the entire Vimalakīrti-nirdeśa, containing the scene known as 'Vimalakīrti's single silence' (維摩一默).
The 'Chapter on the Dharma-Gate of Non-Duality' (不二法門品) is the most famous and most quoted chapter in the entire Vimalakīrti-nirdeśa, containing the scene known as 'Vimalakīrti's single silence' (維摩一默). Vimalakīrti invites the assembled bodhisattvas: 'Let each of you speak to how a bodhisattva enters the Dharma-gate of non-duality.' Dozens of bodhisattvas speak in turn, offering various teachings of non-duality: birth and cessation are not two; self and no-self are not two; defilement and purity are not two. Finally, Mañjuśrī answers: 'As I understand it, in regard to all things — no words, no speech, no showing, no knowing, departing from all questions and answers — this is entering the Dharma-gate of non-duality.' Then, when Mañjuśrī asks Vimalakīrti, Vimalakīrti falls completely and wordlessly silent. Mañjuśrī exclaims in admiration: 'Excellent! Excellent! Not even words or letters — this is truly entering the Dharma-gate of non-duality.' Vimalakīrti's 'thunderous silence' (維摩一默 如雷) represents the ultimate apex of truth that cannot be expressed in words.