大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 79.36

79.36

疏「道品通長」下，合上生長草木。三乘草木即〈藥草喻品〉三草二木，初會已引喻。「高原喻聲聞者，不生佛法蓮華故」，即《淨名》第二「譬如高原陸地不生蓮華，卑濕淤泥乃生此華。如是聲聞諸結斷者，於佛法中無所復益，煩惱泥中乃有眾生出佛法矣。」前亦已引。故《法華經．法師品》內穿鑿高原，亦況聲聞。

From the Commentary's "The factors of awakening generally grow" downwards, it corresponds to the growth of grasses and trees above. The grasses and trees of the three vehicles are the three grasses and two trees of the "Chapter on the Analogy of the Medicinal Herbs"; the analogy was already cited in the first assembly. "The high plateau symbolizes the śrāvakas, because it does not generate the lotus flowers of the Buddhadharma": this is from the second fascicle of the Vimalakīrti[-nirdeśa]: "Just as a high plateau and dry land do not produce lotus flowers, but the low, wet, muddy swamp produces these flowers; so it is that śrāvakas who have severed all fetters can no longer be of benefit within the Buddhadharma, whereas within the mud of afflictions there are sentient beings who bring forth the Buddhadharma." This also has been cited before. Therefore, within the "Chapter on the Dharma Preacher" of the Lotus Sūtra, digging through a high plateau also symbolizes the śrāvakas.