大方廣佛華嚴經疏 8.17

8.17

The eighth is the knowledge power of recollecting past abodes (pūrvanivāsānusmṛti-jñāna-bala): the past sphere, past lives, and past events reside in past worlds, hence they are called "past abodes." Generating recollection regarding these past abodes, the knowledge that operates together with mindfulness is called the knowledge power of past abodes. The Yogācārabhūmi states: "Knowing the past by recollecting the causes of all destinies is the power of paths leading everywhere; knowing past names, clans, suffering, and pleasure is the power of past abodes." How does this reconcile with the Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa? That treatise states: "Merely knowing what one passed through in past lives without knowing the continuity of causes and conditions of karma is merely called supernormal knowledge (abhijñā), which ordinary people can also attain; if one additionally knows the continuity of karmic causes and conditions, it is called clear knowledge (vidyā), which the two vehicles can attain; if one knows the above two infinitely and boundlessly, it is called a power." Thus the power also knows causes. Therefore, it should be explained comprehensively: if one only knows causes, it is the power of paths leading everywhere; if one knows both, it is the power of past abodes. Because the Yogācārabhūmi contrasts it with the causes of paths leading everywhere, it speaks only of fruits. In the text, the first line states it. "The recollecting knowledge encompasses the three times" means that the three times reside entirely within the Buddha's knowledge, how much more so with recollection. That it does not know the three times from separate gates is why it is merely called past abodes. Appearing all in a kṣaṇa means the time in which it encompasses and appears is extremely brief. Appearing within a pore means the place where it can appear is extremely subtle. The third line indicates the vastness of the things appeared and recollected. The fourth line concludes by returning to the knowledge power, showing that it can not only recollect, but can also manifest.