華嚴經探玄記 3.20

3.20

1. Clarifying their presence or absence: Among the eight assemblies, the first two and the last two have [questions], while the other assemblies all lack them. Why is this so? Because the first assembly marks the fruit to initiate the cause. As for the question: the beginning of the second assembly inquires in order to trace the cause to reach the fruit; however, because the causal stages involve ascent and descent, they are lodged across five assemblies to answer them, whereas because the fruition stage is without difference, it is answered within its own assembly. However, as for further questions occurring within the various chapters amidst the five assemblies, all of these are to reveal the distinctions within the Dharma expounded in that particular assembly, with questions and answers following the exposition; they are not distinct inquiries about the marks of the major stages. In the seventh assembly, there is a question because cause and fruition have matured to purity, meaning that cultivation of practice is unobstructed and the six stages are suddenly accomplished, so it is answered within its own assembly. In the eighth assembly, there is a question because cause and fruition accord with nature, meaning that entering the dharmadhātu together is devoid of distinction, so it is also answered within its own assembly.