華嚴經探玄記 3.23

3.23

四請問儀式者，有二：一約言念、二約通別。初中汎論請有二：一言請、二念請。答亦二：一言說答、二示相答。此二問答如次及交絡成四句可知。為成三慧，有斯二例。初二會及第八唯念請。答通二，謂佛示相答、菩薩以言答，以對佛興請不待言故，明佛智領疑，身相現答，自在故也。第七唯言請言，答以行法，約言明了顯故；又對普賢興問，還普賢答故也。二通別者，初會及八別問通答，第二第七別問別答皆可知。

4. The protocol of requesting: There are two aspects: first, in terms of speech versus thought; second, in terms of general versus specific. Regarding the former, generally speaking, requests are of two kinds: 1. request by speech, 2. request by thought. Answers are also of two kinds: 1. answer by spoken word, 2. answer by manifesting signs. These two kinds of questions and answers, taken in sequence and crisscrossed, form four alternatives, as can be known. To accomplish the three wisdoms, there are these two patterns. The first two assemblies and the eighth have requests solely by thought. The answers encompass both: the Buddha answers by manifesting signs, and the bodhisattvas answer by words, because facing the Buddha, raising a request does not wait upon speech, showing that the Buddha's wisdom perceives the doubt and his physical signs manifest the response with complete mastery. The seventh has requests solely by words and answers by words, because for the Dharma of practice, explanation through words is clear and evident; furthermore, the inquiry is raised facing Samantabhadra, and Samantabhadra in turn responds. Second, regarding general versus specific: the first assembly and the eighth have specific questions and general answers; the second and seventh have specific questions and specific answers, as can all be known.