華嚴經探玄記 5.34

5.34

Fourth, explaining the text: within the main teaching there are four chapters, divided into two: the first three chapters are the practices and virtues of the stage itself; the latter one chapter is the superior advancement towards what follows. The first three chapters therein constitute three sections: the first chapter explains the stages; the next chapter explains the practices; the latter chapter praises the virtues. Furthermore, the first is understanding, the next is practice, and the latter reveals virtue, identical to the above three chapters including "Clarifying Difficulties". Question: Why was there no separate superior advancement towards what follows in the previous assembly, while there is one here? Answer: Because here the stages are accomplished, and they are superior to the previous. Furthermore, previously the faiths had no stages, being altogether upāyas for advancing toward the abodes; now here the stages are accomplished, therefore there is separately an upāya for advancing to what follows. Question: If so, why is there no superior advancement after the "Chapter on Dedication"? Answer: Because the worldly stages are completed, it is not needed. Furthermore, it comprehensively gathers the preceding stages to serve as the upāya for realizing the bhūmis.