大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 21.16

21.16

Regarding the Commentary's stating that "the seven cities have three meanings," the text of the Commentary has two intentions: first, it explains the meaning of "city" in the prose text; second, from "With these [multiple meanings]..." onward, it aligns this with the verse text. Within the former there are three parts: first, establishing the three meanings of a city; second, from "Now speaking of the Dharma-city..." downward, setting forth the essence of the city; third, from "Each has three meanings..." downward, separately explaining how teaching, principle, practice, and fruit all have the three [functions], such as warding off external enemies. Now, the four dharmas are treated as three because principle and practice are explained together: without principle, practice is not revealed; without practice, principle is not revealed. Thus, at first, if one comprehends that the nature of the mind-city is empty, then all defilements cannot enter—this is the meaning of warding off external enemies. Nature-emptiness is the principle; that is to say, the intrinsically pure mind does not combine with delusion, which is principle warding off external enemies. Comprehending emptiness is practice: when all defilements cannot enter, practice serves as the city, which is termed warding off external enemies.