華嚴經探玄記 14.37

14.37

The fourth major section, from "Bodhisattva Mahāsattva" onward, explains the accomplishment of the Dharma master. Within this there are four: first, the accomplishment of retention, keeping the Dharma stored in the mind; second, the accomplishment of expounding, initiating exposition based on retention; third, the accomplishment of question and answer, where when others have doubts and ask questions, the bodhisattva answers skillfully; fourth, the accomplishment of receiving and upholding, being able further to receive superior Dharma and proclaim it for others. As for the first of these, it first restates what preceded to introduce what follows. Second, "obtains many meanings" and so forth directly reveals the ten periods, which are differentiated in terms of the karmic functions initiated. That is, the first three initiate mental karma: 1. being able to know the meaning; 2. being able to know the teaching; 3. wisdom arising to penetrate and transform. The next three initiate bodily karma: 4. the body radiates light, using the light of compassion to embrace gentle sentient beings; 5. using majestic power to subdue and gather stubborn sentient beings, displaying confrontation to subdue beings being a wisdom of skillful means; 6. offering above to all buddhas and embracing the poor below, hence called "manifold wealth." The lower four initiate vocal karma: 7. displaying, teaching, and benefiting narrow and inferior sentient beings within the Mahāyāna, which means displaying renown and majestic virtue within the Mahāyāna to cause them to abandon inferiority and enter without difficulty; 8. uninterrupted, meaning preaching constantly; 9. inexhaustible, meaning preaching profoundly; 10. manifold, meaning preaching extensively. The concluding summary below may be understood. The treatise master does not comment on the sūtra text from here below. Second, from "this bodhisattva at one buddha's place" onward explains the accomplishment of expounding. Within this are three: first, explaining the ability to receive many dharmas; second, from "this bodhisattva obtains such" onward, the ability to preach the Dharma extensively; third, from "this bodhisattva sitting on the Dharma seat, or with a single sound" onward, the ability to initiate preaching with sovereignty. Third, from "all sentient beings in the trisahasra world of this bodhisattva" onward explains the accomplishment of question and answer. Within this are two: first, answering difficulties in a single world; second, explaining all worlds. Fourth, from "relying on the Buddha's spiritual power" onward explains the accomplishment of receiving and upholding. Within this are two: first, at the place of a single dust mote; later, analogizing to all dust motes. Recollecting and so forth may be understood. Below explains the results of the bhūmi; the three results are the same as before, which can be seen in the text.