大方廣佛華嚴經疏 12.3

12.3

Third, analogously concluding the rest. Here, it not only concludes the number, but also comprehensively reveals what the preceding text relied upon and dwelt in. The text is divided into four: 1. generally concluding the total number; 2. from “each relying upon…” onward, concluding the categories of forms; 3. from “each one of these…” onward, concluding the retinues; 4. from “as is spoken…” onward, demonstrating where they are situated. Now, the first: raising the fundamental seed system of lands to conclude how many there are. The lands concluded here must be primary lands, because the text below refers to these ineffable Buddha lands having further two tiers encircling them. Directly above in the middle there are only nineteen Buddha lands, yet it concludes with an ineffable number because it is discussed laterally. Otherwise, how could a seed system of lands have only one primary land at the very bottom? Therefore we know, as explained earlier, that discussing primary lands both horizontally and vertically, there are an ineffable number. Below, when concluding where they are situated, it says “and in the fragrant water rivers”—ponder this.

In the second, concluding the categories of forms, the first three list ten headings. Since it says “encircling all around,” we know they extend sideways. Second, from “namely…” onward, broadly explaining the ten headings of shapes, there are eighteen items. Compared to the shapes of the seed systems of lands before, the shape of Mount Sumeru and the shape of adornments are missing; the rest are completely identical, only here differing by being discussed in terms of lands. Third, from “such as these…” onward, concluding into the total count.

In the third, concluding the retinues, there are two layers of primary and secondary. “Each one of these” refers to the above ineffable paramāṇu numbers. Compared with the preceding text, the encircling count directly above the primary lands gradually increases; now speaking of their general characteristic, it says that each has ten land paramāṇus. Furthermore, it is to reveal the meaning of endlessness. “Each again having paramāṇus as spoken above”: the phrase “as above” contains two meanings in the text: First, it generally refers to the preceding count of encircling and encircled surrounding a single world; not wishing to multiply words, it says “as above.” Second, “as above” also uses ten Buddha lands as that which encircles. According to this, it would seem that the translator's text was redundant and the principle obscured—why not say “each again has ten Buddha-land paramāṇus”? If based on the former meaning, it is the marvel of the translator.

Fourth, demonstrating their location: namely, the fragrant ocean at the very center. Since it says “and in the fragrant rivers,” it clearly shows that they extend laterally. (From here on enters Fascicle Nine of the sūtra.)