花嚴經文義綱目 1.2

1.2

According to Master Gyōnen's Mirror of the Meaning of the Dharmadhātu: "In the eighth year of Tenpyō, Vinaya Master Daoxuan of the Great Tang came carrying the commentaries and subcommentaries of this school." Moreover, the Venerable Sim-sang, a native of Silla, had once entered the Tang to visit Xianshou and study the Huayan school; subsequently, he came to this country and resided at Da'an-ji, where he expounded the Avataṃsaka Sūtra at the request of Ryōben and others. Thus, Vinaya Master Xuan was meritorious in first transmitting the commentaries and subcommentaries, while the Venerable Sang was honored for initiating its lectures. Although authentic documentation of the transmission of this text has not yet been found, does it not lie between these two masters, Xuan and Sang? Furthermore, when our Great Master Kōbō interpreted the Huayan teachings, he frequently drew upon this text. It is suspected to be the exemplar brought by Master Xuan and others, which the Great Master also received. Moreover, since this text is not listed in the Catalog of Items Brought Back, it is readily apparent that he received and studied it within this land. Furthermore, other masters have also been able to unpack this text to synthesize the outline of the text and meaning. How much more so the ancient worthies of our own school, who relied upon its discourse on principle to support their formation of doctrine and contemplation, or who evaluated objections and debates to construct the scholarship of their school! How could those who cherish antiquity fail to examine it closely? Even so, since the middle ages of this country, the palm leaves of the Xianshou school have sunken away, and few have revitalized them. Its commentaries and treatises have also gradually been dispersed and lost—how could later scholars not lament this? Formerly, I also made a vow wishing to gather the fallen volumes, but had not yet found them. Now, having obtained this text, it is no different from the impoverished son finding the jewel in his garment. Alas! Was it brought about by the ripening of conditions in their due season, or was it conferred by the benevolent guardian spirits of the Dharma? In the excess of my joy, I immediately collated and punctuated it, committing it to the printing blocks to circulate far and wide. I hope that the Buddha-sun of the Padmagarbha will once more illuminate the dark paths, and the waters of the perfectly interpenetrating Dharma will forever turn back the turbulent waves. This is the preface.