大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 23.11

23.11

Regarding the Commentary's statement "precisely by means of the Buddha-fruit's boundless ocean of lands possessing the inexhaustible mastery of the three worlds": yet the "Lotus Treasury Chapter" seems to have boundaries, because there are the Adamantine Ring of Mountains and the lotus lands, and beyond this there are other oceans of lands. However, that text says, "The dharmadhātu has no distinction, so it is already boundless." Furthermore, the "Chapter on the Formation of the World" says: "The oceans of lands in the ten directions are inconceivable; the Buddha adorned and purified them across immeasurable kalpas. To transform sentient beings and bring them to maturity, he brings forth all realms." Also, a verse states: "The boundless oceans of lands spoken of were all purified by Vairocana. The realm of the World-Honoured One is inconceivable; such is the power of his wisdom and supernatural faculties." Thus the lands are boundless. Regarding "possessing the three worlds": the boundless ocean of lands is the receptacle world; Vairocana's pervasive manifestation is the enlightened world of cognition; and what is sustained by the network of lands and transformed by the Tathāgata is the world of sentient beings. Regarding "mastery": the three worlds mutually identify and interpenetrate, with layers of concealing and revealing completely unobstructed. Hence a verse in the "Lotus Treasury Chapter" says: "In all the dust motes of the Lotus Treasury World, in each single dust mote one sees the dharmadhātu; jewelled lights manifest Buddhas gathering like clouds—this is the Tathāgata's mastery over lands." Therefore, the meaning of "inexhaustible" is precisely "boundless." What is more, all three accord with the nature, which is why they are inexhaustible.