華嚴經探玄記 5.74

5.74

答中三：初總歎甚深，令生希欲；二校量顯勝，生其淨信；三當相辨深，令生正解。初問中天帝問者，在天故、顯功德自在故。法慧說者，稱法之慧方窮功德之際。二說中二：初歎深令信、二「雖然」下正說令解。又釋：前起其希欲、後正授法理。又釋：前顯體甚深、後明用廣大。又釋：前顯義大深、後顯教大廣故也。前中，初句總；六句別，一自不能知、二他聞不信、三思惟不解、四言宣不明、五修慧不能通、六報生智不能分別，故甚深也。又釋：一教量難知、二義深難信、三思惟難解、四應教難說、五欲證難通、六數極故難分別也。

Within the answer, there are three parts: first, generally praising its profundity to induce yearning and desire; second, demonstrating its superiority through comparative measurement to generate pure faith; third, discerning its profundity according to its characteristics to generate correct understanding. In the initial question, that it is asked by the Heavenly Lord is because he resides in heaven and to reveal the mastery of merit. That Dharma-wisdom speaks is because only wisdom that accords with the Dharma can fathom the bounds of merit. In the second part, the exposition, there are two: first, praising the profundity to induce faith; second, from "Although" onwards, the exposition proper to induce understanding. Another interpretation: the former arouses yearning and desire; the latter formally confers the principle of the Dharma. Another interpretation: the former reveals the extreme profundity of the essence; the latter clarifies the vastness of its function. Another interpretation: the former reveals the profound greatness of the meaning; the latter reveals the vast greatness of the teaching. In the former part, the first phrase is general; six phrases are specific: 1. oneself being unable to know it; 2. others hearing it and not having faith; 3. contemplating it and not understanding; 4. words failing to express it clearly; 5. wisdom gained through cultivation being unable to penetrate it; 6. reward-born wisdom being unable to differentiate it; hence it is extremely profound. Another interpretation: 1. the measure of the teaching is difficult to know; 2. the profound meaning is difficult to believe; 3. it is difficult to understand through contemplation; 4. it is difficult to explain in response to capacities; 5. wishing to verify it, it is difficult to penetrate; 6. its count being ultimate, it is difficult to differentiate.