大方廣佛華嚴經疏 44.20

44.20

Major Section 9, beginning with 'O sons of the Buddha, this assembly,' is the section on the benefits of the stages. Within it there are three parts: first, revealing the benefits of the Dharma; second, beginning with 'Just as in this world,' concluding by extending to the ten directions; third, beginning with 'At that time, again with,' other directions arriving to bear witness. Now, the first [part] is divided into two: first, the merit of generating faith; second, beginning with 'Raining celestial beings,' the merit of making offerings. Now, the first also has two: first, explaining that the benefit of the exposition generates faith, meaning that in order to make beings give rise to resolute faith, the benefits are explained; second, beginning with 'At that time,' the quaking of the earth generates faith. Now, the first also has two: first, a general praise of it being difficult to hear; second, beginning with 'Liberation Moon,' questions and answers reveal the benefit. Within the answer there are two: first, directly revealing equality with the Buddha's wisdom; second, beginning with 'Why is this so,' questioning and explaining to establish it, first inversely and then forwardly. However, hearing has two meanings: first, ordinary hearing, which serves as a distant benefit; second, not grasping the mark of hearing, which is true hearing through the perfect interpenetration of beginning and end. Having heard it, one is already equal to the Buddha, so why cultivate further? If one cultivates further, it is to equal many Buddhas. Second, in the quaking of the earth generating faith, the Buddha's power acting as a condition to quake the earth is also to generate faith. Moreover, 'the Dharma being as such' is also a cause. The rest is as in the first assembly.