華嚴經探玄記 7.41

7.41

Fourth, determining the stage: this corresponds to the end of the stage of understanding and practice, completing the first asaṃkhyeya [kalpa]. According to the Treatise on Buddha-Nature (Fo xing lun), only upon fulfilling this stage is it called the stage of non-retrogression. According to the Yogācārabhūmi, in this [stage] one may still fall into hell by oneself. Some say: this still belongs to the stage of accumulation (sambhāra-mārga), because after the dedications the four wholesome roots are separately expounded as applied preparation (prayoga-mārga). Some say: this applies to both stages, because applied preparation is subsumed within the tenth dedication. Some say: this is entirely applied preparation, because the abiding mind belongs to the previous two wholesome roots, and the fulfilled mind belongs to the latter two wholesome roots. The above is generally spoken in terms of the Initial Teaching. Some say: at the initial stage of the ten abidings there is already non-retrogression of stage, how much more so reaching here! Moreover, the three [ranks of] worthies are collectively the upāya for approaching the noble ones, without dividing accumulation and applied preparation into near and far. This is in terms of the Final Teaching. In the Sudden Teaching, all stages of practice are ineffable. Furthermore, following the text below, within this stage all stages are subsumed and the practice of Samantabhadra is complete; therefore, the fulfillment of the stage is the perfection of the cause. This is spoken in terms of the Samantabhadra stage of the Perfect Teaching.