大方廣佛華嚴經疏 1.10

1.10

Second, to repay past causes: Why is it naturally turned in this manner? Because past causes are deep. When roots are deep, the fruit flourishes; when the source is far, the stream flows long. Since past causes are deep, the arising of the teaching is also great. What are 'deep' and 'great'? When our Buddha Bhagavat first stepped upon the profound traces and settled his spirit in wondrous silence, compassion and wisdom operated together, and practice and vows were equally fulfilled. Consequently, without cutting off delusive thoughts, he thoroughly penetrated the emptiness of nature; without polishing the spiritual mirror, he suddenly illuminated the myriad phenomena. Thus, through unobstructed liberation, he expounded this sūtra. / Although past causes are many, in brief there are two kinds: First, by the power of great vows. The 'Appearance of Marks Chapter' states: 'Vairocana Buddha's vow-power pervades the dharmadhātu; in all lands he constantly turns the unsurpassed wheel.' A verse in the Tuṣita Heaven states: 'The Tathāgata does not appear in the world, nor does he enter nirvāṇa; by the power of his original great vows, he displays sovereign Dharmas.' The empowerment of the Buddha at each assembly is always attributed to vow-power, and there is more than one textual proof of this. Second, by the power of past practice. This means that for immeasurable kalpas, relying on vows he initiated practices; when practice was perfected and the fruit attained, only then could he suddenly expound it. Hence the verse of the Mountain-Ruling Spirit states: 'His past cultivation of superior practice had no bounds; his attainment of supernormal powers today is likewise immeasurable. He opens wide the Dharma-doors as numerous as dust motes, causing all sentient beings to awaken deeply and rejoice.'