大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 23.22

23.22

Regarding the commentary's statement, "Interlacing them mutually should yield nine alternatives": 1. verbal request and verbal response; 2. verbal request and response by displaying signs; 3. mental request and verbal response; 4. mental request and response by displaying signs; 5. verbal request with both verbal and displayed-sign response; 6. mental request with both verbal and displayed-sign response; 7. both verbal and mental request with verbal response; 8. both verbal and mental request with response by displaying signs; 9. both verbal and mental request with both verbal and displayed-sign response. The first four compare single to single; the next two contrast single questions with compound responses; the next two contrast compound questions with single responses; the last one is compound questions with compound responses. The present assembly corresponds precisely to the ninth; the second assembly is the sixth alternative; the eighth assembly is the first alternative; the ninth assembly is the fourth alternative.