大方廣佛華嚴經疏 13.23

13.23

Fourth, resolving doubts and objections. Question: At what time was this light from the wheels of the feet emitted? If it was during the expounding of names and truths, what was the intent? The number of Buddha-lands and bodhisattva assemblies are all identical to those in the [Chapter on the Tathāgata's] Names. If it was already emitted previously, why was it not mentioned previously? Answer: It was emitted earlier in the Chapter on the Names. However, the previous two chapters explained that Mañjuśrī's expounding of the Dharma in this assembly did not wait upon the illumination of light. Here, in explaining the teaching across a hundred kotis of lands up to pervading the dharmadhātu, it requires light to reveal it and show whence they came. The bodhisattvas are the same bodhisattvas as before, so they are entirely identical. Next, an objection says: 'If the light illuminates a hundred kotis, why do the hundred kotis not illuminate this place?' The explanation says: 'Because this place is the host. If that place were the host, it would speak of that place illuminating.' Furthermore, it is doubted: 'Since the light below reaches to the end of the dharmadhātu, where else would the Golden-Hued One be?' Each and every land has its original site of the assembly, all separated by ten lands; this is because host and retinue are pervasive.