華嚴經探玄記 4.48

4.48

Third, critical categorization: with respect to this cause, it may be divided into two: first, the comparative stages, meaning from this chapter down through "Dedication"; second, the stages of realization, meaning the stages of realization from the "Ten Bhūmis Chapter" on down. Or it may be divided into three: the first three chapters are preliminaries prior to the stages; the thirteen chapters from the "Ascending to the Heavens Chapter" on down clarify the standard stages of the three worthies; the six chapters below the "Ten Bhūmis" clarify the true stages of the ten sages. Or it may be divided into four: first, from here through the end of the third assembly are the ten understandings; because faith is a preliminary for the abodes and has no standard stage, it is subsumed within the ten abodes; second, the ten practices of the fourth assembly; third, the ten dedications of the fifth assembly; fourth, the ten bhūmis and so forth of the sixth assembly. Or it may be divided into five: opening faith as distinct from the abodes. Furthermore, [Fazang's master Zhi]yan says: by meaning, they may be divided into three: first, the three chapters clarify the initial arising in the prior boundary; second, from "Ascending to the Heavens" on down clarifies good cultivation in the middle boundary; third, the "Inconceivable Dharmas Chapter" and so forth clarify the final manifestation in the posterior boundary. Or they may be divided into four: first, causing those without faith to have faith; second, from the third assembly on down, causing those with faith to enter, meaning understanding and practice; third, from the "Ten Bhūmis Chapter" on down, causing those who have entered to become fully matured; fourth, from the "Inconceivable Chapter" on down, causing those fully matured to attain liberation.