大方廣佛華嚴經疏 12.4

12.4

Second, clarifying the ten oceans circling to the right: that is, surrounding the ocean situated in the center there are ten, each having systems and lands. The ten oceans constitute ten sections. Now, the first: the Ocean of the Defilement-free Radiant Treasury. The text has two parts: First, citing the central ocean to fix the direction—which is that the encircled begins from the east. Second, from “next there is…” onward, clarifying the encircling oceans, within which are two parts: first, clarifying the oceans, flowers, and seed systems of lands; afterward, from “at its lowest level…” onward, clarifying the lands supported by the systems, having twenty tiers; the nine oceans below follow this pattern.

Now, in the twenty tiers of the first ocean, each has seven matters: 1. distance; 2. land name; 3. shape; 4. what it relies upon; 5. covering above; 6. retinue; 7. Buddha title. There are some where essence is spoken of, or purity is spoken of, making eight or nine. The first tier lacks distance, only having the words “at the lowest level”; however, the text is all intelligible, and difficult points will be explained. In the fourteenth tier, where it says the shape is like the four continents: what can be dwelt in amidst water is called a continent. According to the *Abhidharmakośa*, the eastern continent is like a half-moon, the southern continent is like a cart, the western continent is like a full moon, and the northern continent is square. The four continents have differing shapes, yet saying “like” means it is completely similar to this world realm. In this text there is no heading or conclusion of the large number; it can be understood by analogy.

Second, from “Disciples of the Buddha, south of this Ocean of the Defilement-free Radiant Treasury…” onward, the second Ocean of the Wheel of Boundless Light. The nine oceans below all have two parts: first, citing the preceding ocean as that which is relied upon; afterward, from “there is a fragrant water ocean…” onward, clarifying the ocean that relies. None cites the central ocean as that which is encircled; hence it says “south.” From the third ocean onward, it only says “circling to the right” and no longer says “south,” because the ten oceans circle the central ocean like a ring, and thus are not due south. It is like ten saucers encircling one plate; their orientations are visible. Furthermore, from the second onward, some lack lotus flowers: in the earlier general explanation of systems it said, “some dwell relying on lotus flowers, some rely on oceans”; hence some lack them. The text on the relying ocean that follows also has two parts: first, clarifying the ocean, flowers, and seed systems of lands; afterward, from “at its lowest level…” onward, the supported lands. In the twenty tiers, the first world has seven matters in the text; the last text has eight, adding purity; the intermediate ones have only three, namely distance, quantity, and land name with Buddha title. The remaining eight oceans follow this pattern.

Two oceans have been discerned. The third, the Ocean of Vajra-Jewel Radiant Flame; the fourth, the Ocean of Indra-Blue Jewel Adornment; the fifth, the Ocean of Vajra-Wheel Adorned Floor; the sixth, the Ocean of Lotus Indrajāla; the seventh, the Ocean of the Accumulated Precious Fragrant Treasury; the eighth, the Ocean of Jewel Adornment; the ninth, the Ocean of Vajra-Jewel Accumulation; the tenth, the Ocean of Heavenly City Jewel Battlements—their texts are all intelligible. If one wishes to explain the Buddha names in the lands, there is ample room for reflection. (From here on enters Fascicle Ten of the sūtra.)