大方廣佛華嚴經疏 47.16

47.16

First, as for the intention of its occurrence: the preceding [chapter] concerned the benefit of transformation exhausting all times; now it explains that bodhisattvas pervade all places, and hence it follows next. Thus in the chapter on "Asaṃkhyeya" it was explained that every tip of a hair throughout the dharmadhātu has many, many Samantabhacras; that was discussed based on reality. Here, according with what is suitable for capacities and conditions, specific locations are indicated, so that beings develop aversion [for the defiled] and admiration [for the pure], setting their aspirations on a refuge. If one knows that the dwelling bodhisattva can contain oceans of lands in a single hair, and that the place where they dwell can accommodate the boundless in a single dust mote, then there is not a single direction that is not a bodhisattva's dwelling. It also answers from afar the previous question on the ocean of life spans, because bodhisattvas abide with different life spans according to capacity. In the past, this chapter was taken as answering from afar the ten phrases of the initial questions of the second assembly; not only is the doctrinal meaning different, but the texts also do not correspond in sequence.