大方廣佛華嚴經疏 3.19

3.19

Third, fully displaying the categories of meaning: the meanings of the seven characters 'Great' and the rest are all limitless, and each will be briefly explained with ten meanings.
First, clarifying the ten meanings of 'Great':
1. Greatness of essence: whether marks or function, all are identical with the true nature and are permanent and pervasive; thus it is the word 'Great'. The Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra says: 'What is called "great" is named permanent.' This clarifies that its essence does not change; just as the eldest among men is called 'great'. It also says: 'Great means its nature is vast and expansive, like empty space.' This clarifies the pervasiveness of the essence.
2. Greatness of marks: because the nature virtues, numerous as the sands of the Ganges, are all fully present, mutually identifying, penetrating, subtle, manifold, and so forth. Fully possessing the ten profound gates, these are all its marks; thus it is the character 'Broad' (fang) in the sūtra. 'Fang' means dharma (norm/principle).
3. Greatness of function: because the activities and functions are universal and, like the essence, all-pervading; thus it is the character 'Expansive' (guang) in the sūtra. The Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra says: 'Furthermore, "great" means being able to establish great purposes.' This is spoken regarding function. Truly, because the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra lacks 'expansive', and 'expansive' is identical with 'great', it explains 'great' by means of 'expansive'. Vaipulya (fangguang) lacks 'great', and 'great' unites with 'expansive', so it explains 'expansive' by means of 'great'. The present sūtra possesses both, so each is assigned accordingly.
4. Greatness of fruit: because wisdom and elimination, the dependent and primary [retributions], universally pervade the dharmadhātu; thus it is the character 'Buddha' in the sūtra.
5. Greatness of cause: because generating the bodhicitta, giving rise to understanding, practice, vows, and realization, diligence without remiss, accomplishes all the stages; thus it is the character 'Flower' in the sūtra.
6. Greatness of wisdom: because great wisdom is the master, exercising all myriad practices to universally adorn everything without omission; thus it is the character 'Adornment' in the sūtra.
7. Greatness of teaching: because not a single phrase or sentence fails to connect and permeate all ten directions and three periods of time, layered and inexhaustible; thus it is the character 'Sūtra'.
8. Greatness of meaning: because the Dharma that is expressed completely exhausts the dharmadhātu, extending even to Indra's net without omission; thus it is the six characters together.
9. Greatness of object (sphere): because the Dharma gates above are universally inexhaustible, each one serving as an objective realm to be transformed.
10. Greatness of activity: because exhausting the times of the three periods and exhausting the locations of the dharmadhātu, one constantly brings this Dharma to benefit sentient beings without rest.
These do not deviate from the seven kinds of great natures in texts such as the Mahāyānasaṃgraha.