華嚴經探玄記 2.25

2.25

In the second assembly, there are two assemblies, new and old, which recapitulating the former makes fifty-seven assemblies in all; the third and fourth assemblies each have two assemblies, heavenly kings and bodhisattvas, which recapitulating the former makes sixty-one assemblies in all; in the fifth assembly, within the 'Chapter on Ascending to the Heavens', there are fifty-two assemblies and one assembly gathered like clouds; the sixth assembly has two assemblies, born together and born differently; and the seventh assembly has one assembly—which recapitulating the former makes one hundred and seventeen assemblies in all; in the eighth assembly, there are three assemblies of bodhisattvas, śrāvakas, and heavenly kings, which recapitulating the former makes one hundred and twenty assemblies in all. Therein, each one has the dust particles of ten buddha worlds as its measure; such as these are all without limits. However, since these eight assemblies are simultaneously and mutually interfused to form one great assembly of the dharmadhātu, one knows that within each assembly there are each one hundred and twenty assemblies, limitless in character. This is tentatively spoken in terms of the eight assemblies in this one world. If extended to all worlds throughout the dharmadhātu of empty space in the ten directions, each has these boundless assemblies, mutually entering layer upon layer like Indra's net without end, which is inexpressible and inexpressible. This is called the number of the assembly of the Avataṃsaka ocean assembly. Second, new and old in the various assemblies: some are only old without new, such as the sixth and seventh assemblies; some are only new without old, such as the third, fourth, and fifth assemblies; some are both new and old, such as the first, second, and eighth assemblies. The remaining points are as explained below in the gathering of the assemblies.