大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 26.42

26.42

Regarding the Commentary's statement 'the third refers to prior to the stages,' faith and understanding is a general name for prior to the stages, also called the abode of the practice of superior understanding (adhimukticaryā-bhūmi), because having not yet realized tathatā, one practices solely relying on the power of understanding.