華嚴經探玄記 1.10

1.10

Third, "due to the elicitation of capacities": the Tathāgata is impartial and without alteration, appearing in bodily form and expounding the Dharma in accordance with sentient beings as appropriate. This has three meanings: First, taking the pure virtues of form and sound of the Buddha fruit as the predominant condition, he responds to the elicitation of those capacities to effect gathering and transformation. A verse in "Assembly of Clouds" states: "When there are eyes and there is sunlight, / One can see subtle colors; / Due to the supreme supernatural power, / With a pure mind one sees all Buddhas (this is the manifestation of the body)." Furthermore, the "Chapter on the Dharmadhātu" states: "Through his past practices, the Buddha / Attained a single subtle and wondrous sound; / Having no intention toward this or that, / He is nevertheless able to respond to everything (this is the expounding of the Dharma)." Second, the Buddha fruit is devoid of coarse marks of form and sound; solely through the predominant vow-power of impartial principle and wisdom, forms and words are manifested when capacities and response correspond. A verse in "Assembly of Clouds" states: "All Buddhas of the three times / Have dharmakāyas that are entirely pure; / In accordance with those who are to be transformed, / They universally manifest wondrous form-bodies." It also states: "All Tathāgatas / Have no Buddhadharma that they expound; / In accordance with those who are to be transformed, / They expound the Dharma for them." Third, reconciling the above two meanings, existence and non-existence are unobstructed, because they accord with the unobstructed dharmadhātu. The "Chapter on Rocana" states: "The Buddha's body fills all dharmadhātus, / Universally appearing before all sentient beings; / Vessels fit to receive transformation are completely filled, / And therefore the Buddha abides under this bodhi tree. / Lands equal to the dust motes of all Buddha lands— / As many Buddhas as that sit within a single pore, / Each having immeasurable assemblies of bodhisattvas, / For whom they each expound Samantabhadra's practices in full." Explanation: This is precisely the scope expounded by this sūtra.