華嚴經探玄記 7.7

7.7

Fourth, explaining the text: this assembly has three chapters: the first two are the introductory section, and the latter one is the principal teaching. Why is there no subsequent progression? Because subsuming the previous understanding and practice collectively serves as the skillful means for progressing to the bhūmis, and dedication in its own essence is naturally superior progress, therefore there is none. Throughout this sūtra, there are four such instances: (1) at the point where practice is complete and one enters a stage, like when faith is complete in the "Bhadramukha" chapter, collectively serving as the skillful means for entering the abodes; (2) at the point where inferential [practice] is complete and one enters realization, like in this "Dedication Chapter" where the first asaṃkhyeya is completed, collectively serving as the skillful means for entering the bhūmis; (3) at the point where effort is complete and one enters effortless action, like at the beginning of the eighth bhūmi where it collectively subsumes the previous seven bhūmis as skillful means, where the second asaṃkhyeya is completed; (4) at the point where causal stages are fully accomplished, like at the beginning of the tenth bhūmi where it subsumes the previous nine bhūmis as skillful means for entry, subsumed at the point where three asaṃkhyeyas are completed. The rest, being connections between identical stages, have separate skillful means, and thus are not of the same pattern. Regarding the introductory section above, the distinction between the two chapters and two introductions is distinguished as before.