華嚴經探玄記 18.31

18.31

Eighth, regarding the human categories of the dharmadhātu, there are two parts: first distinguishing the classifications, and second revealing the doctrinal aspects. Under the former, although in general discussion there are fifty-seven people, when categorized into classes there are only twenty: 1. bodhisattvas, 2. monks (bhikṣus), 3. nuns (bhikṣuṇīs), 4. laymen (upāsakas), 5. laywomen (upāsikās), 6. young boys, 7. young girls, 8. gods (devas), 9. goddesses (devīs), 10. non-Buddhists, 11. brahmins, 12. householders (śreṣṭhins), 13. scholars, 14. physicians, 15. shipmasters, 16. kings, 17. ṛṣis, 18. the Buddha's mother, 19. the Buddha's consort, and 20. spirits. Under the second, revealing the doctrinal aspects, there are four propositions: 1. In terms of the fruit gathering and transforming [beings], these are entirely the function of the Buddha's wisdom gathering sentient beings, manifested by the sāgara-mudrā-samādhi. 2. In terms of the cause perfecting practice, these are entirely the bodhisattva perfecting practice and gathering sentient beings, simply manifesting different forms according to the power of vows to respond to various capacities. 3. In terms of meaning revealing virtues, they are entirely subsumed within the person-dharma gate of the conditioned-arising dharmadhātu. 4. In terms of characteristics distinguishing differences, these are bodhisattvas subsumed under the five births: 1) birth that ceases suffering, 2) birth according to species, 3) superior birth, 4) augmented birth, and 5) final birth. Among them, there are six bodhisattvas who manifest their bodies in three places: first, Mañjuśrī at the beginning, because he is the mother of buddhas, because of original affinity, and because the initial stage is inferior, is only a single person; second, in the middle, two persons are manifested as one gradually advances, namely Avalokiteśvara and Ananyagāmin; and because the subsequent stages are perfected and reveal superior virtues, there are three persons, namely Maitreya, Mañjuśrī, and Samantabhadra. The remaining persons are lodged to reveal differences of stages, which will be analyzed when reaching the text.