大方廣佛華嚴經搜玄分齊通智方軌 1.11

1.11

Within the eight assemblies, the reason the Buddha is clarified first is that the Buddha is the master of transformation; now, in gathering beings, one must take the master of transformation as primary, and so he is clarified first. Second, the Great Sage must have a dwelling place when expounding the Dharma; next, the location is distinguished. Third, there being those who are gathered and transformed, next the bodhisattvas are clarified. Fourth, though the vessels are fully present, if their requests are not satisfied, he will not speak; hence next doubt is generated. Fifth, the moisture of the Dharma is boundless; next, the assembly of new multitudes is distinguished. Sixth, subtle dharmas cannot be spoken immediately without deliberation; next, entering samādhi is distinguished. Seventh, desiring to distinguish the supremacy of the Dharma, the Buddha's empowerment is clarified. Eighth, to reveal the beginning, end, and scope of the Dharma, the difference between emergence and non-emergence is next clarified. Ninth, once the supreme Dharma is proclaimed, the benefit of the Dharma is next clarified; hence the shaking of the earth, the raining of flowers, and so forth are distinguished. Tenth, when the functions and benefits are manifested and transformation is not one-sided or bent, the ten directions turn equally in genuine accord; hence next the equality of concluding the assembly is distinguished, manifesting realization and conferring validation. If these ten are separated into the raining of flowers and so forth, there are fifteen: scattering flowers, burning incense, emitting light, playing music, and raining jewels—gathering these five into one. Here, they are all subsumed within the ten.