大方廣佛華嚴經疏 24.3

24.3

First, as for the reason for its occurrence, there are five general meanings: 1. To answer the previous question on the ten treasuries at the beginning of the second assembly; 2. The previous [chapter] clarified the principal stages, whereas now practice is initiated based on the stages, the same as the "Brahmacārya Chapter"; 3. The previous was based on the distinct practices of the stages, whereas now it discerns the practice common throughout from beginning to end; 4. The previous clarified the practices that establish the stages, whereas now it discerns the purification of those practices, the same as the ten practices such as faith in the "Ten Stages"; 5. The previous clarified the fulfillment of one's own stage, whereas now it discerns the superior advancement tending toward the subsequent, the same as the "Clarifying the Dharma [Chapter]" above. According to the question, it ought to follow the ten dedications; that it is discerned here briefly has two explanations: One says: "treasury" has two meanings: regarding the meaning of containing and gathering, it comes after the ten practices; regarding the meaning of producing, it comes before the ten stages. The meaning connects both places, and the question and answer mutually illuminate each other. Another says: dedication has no separate essence of its own, but simply takes being able to dedicate the preceding practices as its essence. Now, since the ten treasuries are the superior advancement of the ten practices, they are also the superior advancement of dedication; therefore, after dedication there is no separate superior advancement. This means that mutually mentioning before and after makes the meaning complete. However, both the "Clarifying the Dharma Chapter" and the fifth dedication have the ten treasuries; as they vary according to the three ranks of worthies, they are not confused with each other. Furthermore, the former is accomplished through superior advancement, while the latter is the fruit of a single stage; here, it is generally taken as superior advancement, so their intentions differ.