大方廣佛華嚴經疏 10.8

10.8

Fifth, the northeastern direction, Bodhisattva Dharmasamudra. In the earlier assembly gathering, his name was Inexhaustible Store of Merits of the Most Supreme Luminous Lamp. 'Ocean of Dharma' can correspond to 'most supreme illumination', its meaning being identical to wisdom. The name 'Store of Merits' is unchanged before and after. The two characters 'inexhaustible' were present before and absent here. His ten verses praise the Buddha for gathering supreme retinues, answering the question on the Buddha's powers (bala). They lodge the praise in the bodhisattvas, though [their deeds] actually stem from the Buddha's powers; hence it concludes: 'abiding in the stage of powers'. In the text, the first verse concerns wisdom being fulfilled and Dharma being attained, which serves as the general mark. 'Such access gates of expedient means' has two senses: first, it refers to what precedes, meaning that by possessing the transformations of the previous three wheels, they can universally pervade each and every land. Second, it refers to the nine specific marks below as being 'such expedient means'. The remaining nine specific marks together praise seven matters: 1. Praising the universal expounding of the great voice. There are three kinds of greatness: first, greatness of place, because it is in each and every land; second, greatness of meaning, because it speaks of what the Buddha has practiced; third, greatness of essence, because it is heard throughout the ten directions. 2. Praising that time is never spent in vain, because in thought after thought they contemplate dharmas and realize reality. 3. Being able to enter supreme places, because within the bodies of all Buddhas they cultivate pure lands. 4. Being unobstructed in defilement, because in the midst of dust motes they realize the Dharma and universally wander. 5. Being able to enter the Buddha's realm, seeing the Buddha's supernormal powers and entering the scope of practice. The scope of practice has two aspects: first, the scope of practice of wisdom, which refers to the realm of the ten powers; second, the scope of the Buddha's transformation, which refers to the receptacle world and sentient beings. 6. There are three verses on being skilled in entering sounds: first, entering the great voice; second, entering the wondrous voice; third, entering all voices. 7. One verse on skillfully knowing the various stages. 'From a stage' refers to the arising of the mind. 'Obtains the stage' refers to abiding and entering. 'In the stage of powers' refers to the Buddha-stage. 'The Dharma obtained' summarizes the expedient means above.