華嚴經探玄記 20.2

20.2

Within [the passage on] the spiritual friend of the seventh ground, the Far-Reaching Ground, first, in raising the Dharma to encourage practice, there are three parts: first, pointing to the subsequent stage; next, versifying the preceding Dharma; third, Sudhana gaining benefit. In the first part, "Flowering Tree Flowers": if discussed in terms of the stage, it is named this because this ground is an abiding of signlessness that possesses active practice and blossoming development; in terms of concrete facts, this goddess resides within pavilions of fragrant trees, hence this name is established. Second, versifying the preceding Dharma is because at the time of departure, she earnestly entrusts it to him so that he may cultivate and study it. Therein are fourteen and a half verses: the first two generally versify the Dharma of object and wisdom; the next eleven verses [versify] making offerings to buddhas and cultivating practice during the kalpa of Stainless Light, wherein the first three raise it in general, the next five specifically versify generating the great mind and so forth before the first buddha, the next three verses clarify cultivating practice and attaining the Dharma before subsequent buddhas as numerous as the dust motes of Sumeru, and the final one and a half verses conclude with cultivating practice and purifying this Dharma through kalpas as numerous as the dust motes of transformed lands. Third, from "At that time, Sudhana" onwards clarifies gaining benefit upon hearing the verses. Therein are two: first, attaining the Dharma in prose, which has six clauses: 1. generally raising the essence of the Dharma, 2. samādhi, 3. dhāraṇī, 4. superknowledges, 5. an ocean of eloquence, 6. the profound Dharma; the latter five are functions. Second, praising the night goddess in verses, wherein fourteen verses are divided into five parts: the first four verses praise the profundity of compassion and wisdom; the next four verses praise the vastness of saving sentient beings; the next two praise abandoning hindrances and embracing virtues; the next three praise the assembly eliminating delusion upon seeing her; the final one praises her function being identical to the fruit of buddhahood.