大方廣佛華嚴經疏 13.2

13.2

Second, from 'At that time Mañjuśrī' on, distinguishes the verbal answer. Within the text there are four parts: 1. praising the assembly as rare; 2. from 'Sons of the Buddha' on, reiterating the questions and praising them in general; 3. from 'Why is that?' on, querying the praise and explaining it in general; 4. from 'Sons of the Buddha, the Tathāgata' on, broadly revealing the inconceivable. Now, the first. When the previous assembly harbored doubts and questions, the Buddha ordered Mañjuśrī to answer because Mañjuśrī, manifesting his dwelling in this land, had ten auspicious portents at birth; coming from another direction, his essence encompasses myriad virtues; subduing Māra and curbing outsiders, his eloquence is inconceivable; his transformation fills dust-mote directions, and his function pervades the three times; having achieved the path in previous kalpas, he was already named Venerable King of Dragon Lineage; presently realizing bodhi, he is again called Accumulation of Mani Jewels; he is truly the mother of the buddhas of the three times—how could he merely be Śākyamuni's teacher? Arriving like a shadow and echo, all behold him; hence he speaks. Why does he not wait for a request? Because he is revered equally with the Buddha. Why does he not wait for an announcement? Because he relies on the Buddha's spiritual power and the Buddha's mind assents. Since the assembly made a silent request, the Buddha just then manifested marks; without an overwhelmingly exalted great being, how could one tacitly communicate in accord with principle? Thus above he showed Samantabhadra with light, while here he secretly empowers Wondrous Virtue. If so, why does Samantabhadra request again after samādhi? To signify that explaining what is believed is extremely profound and subtle. Why does he not enter samādhi? Because, bringing fruition to follow cause, it is identical with faith. The rest is as explained above. Why is there no empowerment? Because there is no samādhi, and also because relying on the Buddha's spiritual power is secret empowerment. Praising the assembly as rare briefly has five meanings: the response to spiritual capacity is widely separated and difficult to encounter at once; their virtuous practice is internally replete, so they are praised in general; signifying dharmas by names is extremely rare; initially giving rise to the practice of faith has never occurred before; this single assembly is precisely the dharmadhātu assembly that equals empty space.