大方廣佛華嚴經疏 31.6

31.6

Question: Why is it that before the stages the quality of perfect interpenetration is revealed, whereas on the stages gradual deployment is displayed to show shallowness and inferiority? Answer: It is to reveal the Ekayāna. How does it reveal it? In the stations of the Triyāna, there is gradual deployment before the stages and perfect interpenetration on the stages. Now in the stations of the Ekayāna, there are both gradual deployment and perfect interpenetration both before the stages and on the stages. If both were expounded together [in both places], then there would be no difference between the earlier and the later. If there were gradual deployment before the stages and perfect interpenetration on the stages, it would be entirely the same as the Triyāna, where the earlier is shallow and the later is deep, and it would also seem as if gradual deployment and perfect interpenetration were separate, so that in doctrine and practice one would not know the dharmatā and doctrine and practice would be neither identical nor separate. Therefore, merely revealing perfect interpenetration before the stages already surpasses the Triyāna, while on the stages mostly elucidating gradual deployment reveals transcendence. What is this transcendent mark? It means that from beginning to end in the stations of the worthy [bodhisattvas] there is already perfect interpenetration and sovereignty; once the stages are ascended, they are profound, exceedingly profound, where speech cannot reach. If one did not consign [the practice] to the stations, how could their depth be revealed? If they did not encompass the Triyāna, how could their breadth be revealed? Thus, the tracks of a bird in empty space: each track conforms to the sky; the ten qualities of the great ocean: each quality is the ocean itself. Within each and every stage, the merits of all stages are fully subsumed. Within each and every passage of the text, it says: "If, by the power of superior vows, it exceeds this again, it cannot be known by counting." Therefore Vajragarbha waited for five requests before speaking, and Vasubandhu used the six characteristics to make them perfectly interpenetrate. The intention lies right here.