大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 2.38

2.38

First, "the sage's intent is profound and far-reaching, so each sets forth his understanding": this is the general intention. That is, the Buddha-Dharma is profound, differing in depth according to a person's wisdom. This also fends off outside objections. There was fear that someone might object: on worldly roads, sheep are lost due to many forks; among scholars, aspiration is lost due to many paths. The pure source is not two, yet its branches and tributaries become ever more numerous; old commentaries and new expositions increasingly muddy the true nature. Why add a roof on top of a roof, or place a bed upon a bed? Since it already existed of old, why is there a need to remake it? Thus the ten intentions below all resolve this doubt. The first intention here directly answers this objection. It is precisely because the sage's intent is profound and far-reaching that, in accordance with varying views, each presents his abilities to glorify the gift of the Dharma. What was valued in the past is commendable, so why should there be further dispute? Thus when the five hundred monks each spoke of the cause of the body, the Buddha approved that none failed to be correct speech. When thirty-two bodhisattvas together discussed non-duality, different views arrived at the same conclusion. Hence the sūtra below says: "The boundless ocean-like assembly each entered a gate of liberation; their realms being ten thousandfold diverse, they together headed toward the Tathāgata's ocean of wisdom." Thus Bodhisattva Sāgaramati said: "The Tathāgata's realm has no bounds; each can see it in accordance with their liberation." For this reason, in the Western Regions and the Eastern Xia, in explaining treatises and interpreting sūtras, a sūtra has treatises by many schools, and a treatise has commentaries by many masters. It is like breaking a gold staff: the essence of the gold is not different; or gathering the hundred rivers: the vast ocean becomes all the greater. Thus whether bodhisattvas who have ascended the bhūmis, virtuous ones on the preparatory path, outstanding figures of the contemporary era, or those receiving the Tathāgata's prophetic assurance, all had thoughts excelling the ordinary crowd and wisdom surpassing common sentiments. Although what they saw differed, they were all transmitted in the world, each displaying its beauty and together praising the great way; those who practice relying upon them never fail to obtain benefit. Now, I also look up and reach toward their superior virtue to exhaust my utmost dedication, peering at the sky through a tube and adding a drop of current to the ocean—what wonder should there be in this?