大方廣佛華嚴經疏 55.20

55.20

Second, from "Then Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva encouraged the" downward, the assembly of people of the various vehicles, has four [parts]: 1. concluding what was previously done; 2. from "gradually" downward, clarifying reaching the place of conversion; 3. from "Then Mañjuśrī" downward, revealing the Dharma preached; 4. from "having preached this sūtra" downward, clarifying the assembly benefited. Concerning the place of conversion: the residents of that city had much merit and virtue, hence it is called the City of Blessings (Dhanyākara); "city" represents guarding against wrongdoing. The east is the head of all directions and the beginning of brightness, representing following the virtuous roots of the share conducive to merit (puṇyabhāgīya) to enter the beginning of the path. It also represents merit and wisdom, the basis for entering the stations. "Sāla grove"—this translates as "high and distant," because the grove of trees is tall and dense, representing the subsequent arising of myriad practices for adornment, subjugation, and suppression. "Great caitya" is the place of taking refuge in the fundamental. Tripiṭaka Master Divākara said: "This city is in South India; the great caitya east of the city is a stūpa of an ancient Buddha, which already existed when the Buddha was in the world. The Tripiṭaka Master personally went to that place; the stūpa is extremely large, and while drums and music are offered on the east side, it is not heard on the west side; it still exists today. The residents of this place often sing songs about Sudhana. The people within this city all possess the virtuous roots of the share conducive to liberation (mokṣabhāgīya) and are worthy vessels of the path." This represents that the fundamental enlightenment and true nature of the dharmadhātu relied upon is shared by all Buddhas, hence saying "where past Buddhas once resided," etc. Third, revealing the Dharma preached. "Universally illuminating," etc.: the function of wisdom is vast and extensive, hence saying "universally illuminating." What is illuminated is deep and broad, called the dharmadhātu—namely the Entry into the Dharmadhātu Sūtra. Fourth, within the assembly benefited, there are two distinct categories: first, clarifying the nāgas, who grasp the intent of the master's teaching, hence saying "directly seeking the Buddha path." Residing in the waters of the ocean, they were capable of receiving and hearing it. Later, from "further there were" downward, gathering the capacities of the three vehicles, who grasp the intent of the teaching for the retinue, hence merely saying that "further there were sentient beings tamed," without separately expounding to them; thus it is not a distinct assembly.