大方廣佛華嚴經疏 33.4

33.4

Third, regarding the one gāthā that relies on contrasts to reveal the subtlety: this is because it reveals subtlety by contrasting it with [wisdoms] born of hearing, reflection, and so forth. The first line presents the essence of the dharma. 'Wisdom' is the wisdom of the stages that arises, which is the fundamental wisdom explained in the previous five gāthās. 'Arising' refers to the preparatory and subsequently attained [wisdoms]; both contemplate suchness, and suchness is the realm of the Buddha, both acting as that which gives rise [to it]. Thus the treatise says: 'By what contemplation and by what congruent practice can this wisdom be aroused?' This corresponds to the previous gāthā: 'What contemplation? The aforementioned contemplation of the objective realm. What congruent practice? The aforementioned practices of giving and so on.' The use of 'what' in each case refers to whatever contemplation or practice, being an expression of non-singularity, because preparatory application differs according to the stage, and subsequently attained [wisdom] observes diverse objective realms. The next two lines clarify that it is difficult to explain, in which the first line indicates that it is difficult to explain because it is not a mental concomitant. 'Non-thought' means it is not the realm of the wisdom born of reflection. 'Transcending the paths of the mind' means it is not the realm of reward-born consciousness and cognition. As for 'reward-born consciousness,' it has been discriminated above under the section on opposing the request. The subsequent line clarifies that it is not identical with the three categories [of skandhas, dhātus, and āyatanas], which have form, mind, faculties, and objects, and is therefore inexpressible. The treatise's version of the sūtra states that 'it is not explained through the skandhas, dhātus, or āyatanas'; the treatise's commentary explains 'not explained' as 'devoid of letters.' The present sūtra omits the word 'explained'; 'gate' simply means 'explanation.' Thus the Lotus Sūtra takes explanation as the gate of wisdom. The final line clarifies that it cannot be heard. 'Known by wisdom' means it is known only by realizing wisdom. That 'the mind cannot reach it' means it cannot be grasped as it is heard; that is, one relies on wisdom, not on consciousness.