華嚴經探玄記 7.22

7.22

Second, because his mind contemplating the Buddha is firm, he is named Sthiradhvaja. The ten verses are divided into three: the first seven praise the Buddha's virtues, the next two encourage cultivation to enter, and the final one concludes with the benefits of seeing and hearing. In the first part there are five: first, two verses clarify that essence and function transcend sentiment, meaning that the first [verse's] essence is profound, the next half's function is vast, and the lower half transcends sentiment; second, there are two verses clarifying that his virtue is profound and encouraging drawing close: the first verse's virtue is profound—the upper half speaks of profound Dharma, and the lower half raises the pure body. That is, it clarifies that the Buddha's pure body arises in accordance with the causes and conditions of the myriad practices, with the fundamental nature as the cause and what is cultivated as the condition. Why reveal this virtue? To clarify that arising from conditions is an accomplishable dharma. The latter verse encourages seeking, because it facilitates the meaning and principle. Third, one verse praises the virtue of the Buddha causing offerings to bring vast benefits, meaning that offerings made with a pure mind and constant mind cause one to achieve buddhahood. Fourth, one verse praises the virtue of the Buddha causing contemplation to increase practice: the first line is increasing virtue, the second is growing practice, the third is leaving delusions, and the fourth concludes contemplation. Fifth, one verse praises the great person's virtue of contemplative understanding, meaning that only the Buddha's heir who has realized the ultimate dharmatā can understand it. In encouraging cultivation, the first verse encourages giving rise to the desire to seek the Way, and the latter verse encourages repaying kindness and reverently drawing close. Below, concluding the benefits: the upper half concludes the praise, meaning that seeing the Buddha concludes the Buddha's virtues above, and hearing the Buddha's Dharma concludes the Dharma expounded by the Guide and so forth above; the lower half reveals the benefits.