大方廣佛華嚴經疏 5.8

5.8

Seventh, preceding and following: listing the bodhisattvas first and the other assemblies afterward expresses proceeding from the fundamental to raise the derivative. Praising them below and then explaining the bodhisattvas afterward expresses tracing the derivative to return to the fundamental. Truly, because the fundamental and derivative are not two, the two passages mention them reciprocally. Furthermore, flowing from the fundamental to the derivative must go first from small to great, hence the Sovereign Deva is at the end; gathering the derivative to return to the fundamental must go from deep to shallow, hence the Sovereign [Deva] is explained first. Yet both show that the pratītyasamutpāda of the dharmadhātu is sovereign whether progressing forward or in reverse. Furthermore, it expresses that the forty stations each completely penetrate the causal gate and encompass the ocean of fruition; hence their preceding and following are mentioned reciprocally, so that beings do not form notions of superior and inferior.