華嚴經探玄記 16.16

16.16

Third, regarding the central theme and aim, there are two: first the theme, then the aim. The theme explains Samantabhadra's practices, which briefly are of ten kinds: (1) penetrating times and kalpas; (2) knowing the worlds; (3) recognizing capacities and faculties; (4) understanding causes and fruits; (5) thoroughly realizing the nature of principle; (6) observing phenomenal marks; (7) constantly dwelling in meditative absorption; (8) constantly giving rise to compassion; (9) manifesting spiritual superknowledges; (10) constantly being in quietude and cessation. Each of these ten above has ten gates. For example, within times and kalpas: (1) the dhāraṇī gate, where within a single thought-moment there are many kalpas, etc.; (2) the mutual identity gate, where the three times are identical to a single thought-moment, etc.; (3) the subtle gate, where many manifest within one, etc.; (4) the Indra's net gate, where they are manifested repeatedly, etc.; (5) the inconceivable liberation gate, where length and brevity are manifested sovereignly according to wisdom, etc.; (6) the single body universal pervasion gate, where the body's pervasion immediately enters the kalpas of the three times, etc.; (7) the single body universal subsumption gate, where the ocean of kalpas of the three times is within a single pore, etc.; (8) the manifest cause gate, where one constantly practices the great practices and vows of a bodhisattva pervading the past and future, etc.; (9) the manifest fruit gate, where one universally manifests the realization of right awakening throughout the three times, etc.; (10) the manifest Dharma gate, where one clouds and rains the preaching of Dharma universally throughout the ocean of kalpas, etc. The first five are sovereignty of mental action; the latter five are sovereignty of bodily and vocal action. Just as there are these ten gates regarding times and kalpas, the other nine also each have ten; following this, one may briefly discern one hundred gates of Samantabhadra's practices; the remaining meanings are fully apparent in the text. Second, regarding the aim: it clarifies that the intention of these universal practices is to correspond to and reveal the fruit and function of nature manifestation. Question: What is the difference between this and nature manifestation? Answer: There are three differences: first, this concerns the cause, while that concerns the fruit; second, this is what gives rise, while that is what is given rise to; third, this encompasses cultivation and generation, while that is solely nature manifestation. The rest is as explained in the 'Chapter on Nature Manifestation'.