華嚴經探玄記 1.8

1.8

First, "due to dharmatā": by dharmatā all Buddhas constantly turn such an inexhaustible dharmacakra in inexhaustible worlds, just as the king's high road is by nature a constant rule, unceasing and unresting to the utmost limit of the future. Therefore, the "Chapter on the Inconceivable" below states: "All worlds equal to the empty space of the dharmadhātu are fully measured with the tip of a hair. At the site of each hair-tip, in thought-moment after thought-moment, bodies equal to the dust motes of unspeakable-unspeakable Buddha lands are manifested, continuing until kalpas at the utmost limit of the future. Each transformed Buddha body has heads equal to the dust motes of unspeakable-unspeakable Buddha lands; each head has tongues equal to the dust motes of unspeakable-unspeakable Buddha lands; each tongue emits sounds equal to the dust motes of unspeakable-unspeakable Buddha lands; each sound expounds sūtras equal to the dust motes of unspeakable-unspeakable Buddha lands; each sūtra expounds dharmas equal to the dust motes of unspeakable-unspeakable Buddha lands; and within each dharma are expounded padakāyas and vyañjanakāyas equal to the dust motes of unspeakable-unspeakable Buddha lands. Furthermore, for kalpas equal to the dust motes of unspeakable-unspeakable Buddha lands, distinct padakāyas and vyañjanakāyas are expounded, and their sounds fill the dharmadhātu so that none among all sentient beings fails to hear them. Throughout all kalpas at the utmost limit of the future, the dharmacakra is constantly turned, and the Tathāgata's voice is without difference, without interruption, and inexhaustible." Explanation: According to this sūtra text, at the site of a single hair-tip and within a single thought-moment, such karmic functions as described above are brought forth, and it is also like this in all other thought-moments. Just as at the site of a single hair-tip such karmic functions are inexhaustible in thought-moment after thought-moment, each and every other hair-tip in succession, pervading all worlds equal to empty space and the dharmadhātu, is likewise endlessly inexhaustible. This means that spatially a hair-tip encompasses the dharmadhātu, and temporally a kṣaṇa exhausts an ocean of kalpas. This site explains the sudden arising of karmic functions, while this time explains the constant arising of karmic functions; nor does this await causes and conditions, for it is the dharmatā of all Buddhas. All that is expounded below in this sūtra is like this. Question: If so, why are the places limited to eight assemblies and the time restricted to two weeks? Answer: The "Chapter on Rocana" states: "Within each single dust mote, / An ocean of Buddha lands resides; / The Buddha's clouds everywhere protectively mindful, / All-encompassing, cover everything." It also states: "Within a single pore, / Immeasurable Buddha lands, / Adorned and pure, / Abide spaciously. / In all those places, / Rocana Buddha, / Amid the ocean-like assemblies, / Expounds the true Dharma." Explanation: How much more so must the places of the eight assemblies encompass the dharmadhātus of the ten directions? Furthermore, the "Chapter on Generating the Mind" states: "Knowing that immeasurable kalpas are just a single thought, / And a single thought is just immeasurable kalpas." Explanation: How much more so does the time of two weeks encompass an ocean of immeasurable kalpas? The "Chapter on the Inconceivable" states: "All Buddhas universally manifest all Buddha lands of the three times within a single dust mote; they universally manifest the sovereign supernatural powers of all Buddhas of the three times within a single dust mote; they universally manifest all sentient beings of the three times within a single dust mote; they universally manifest all Buddha-works of all Buddhas of the three times within a single dust mote." Explanation: The three times within a dust mote here fully encompass all kalpas of the past and future limits; this is what is meant by all Buddhas constantly expounding by dharmatā.