大方廣佛華嚴經搜玄分齊通智方軌 3.34

3.34

Sixth, regarding the contemplation of the three limits: 'three' is the number; 'limit' reveals the boundary of beginninglessness; it takes the principle and phenomena of cause and effect in the three times as the substance of this contemplation. The three sections are the same as above. First, that which is to be cured: this cures the attachment to causelessness, which is the eternalist view; that is, grasping that dharmas do not arise from causes, and further claiming that in the future there is no birth, aging, and death, which is the annihilationist view. Second, the contemplation approach of that upon which the remedy relies: ignorance, formations, and so on belong to the past world, curing the eternalist view that grasps at the body in the present world. Craving, grasping, becoming, and so on belong to the future world, remedying the opponent's error of the annihilationist view. This is explained according to the sūtra. Third, explaining the text: 'Herein there is turning through the three periods of time' means repeatedly and progressively giving rise to subsequent existences; this merely clarifies the hazards. The rest of the text can be understood. This is explained according to the treatise.