大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 43.44

43.44

Regarding the commentary from “although there is vipaśyanā” downward: the second part resolves an objection, which is clear from the text, and precisely presents the intrinsic nature of dhyāna from the *Yogācāra[-bhūmi]*. Regarding the commentary's statement “the above nine specific phrases are subsumed into three dhyānas”: the three dhyānas are precisely the “all dhyānas” of the *Yogācāra[-bhūmi]*. The *Vijñaptimātratā* merely lists them without explaining their names, whereas the *Yogācāra[-bhūmi]* explains them extensively. Now, relying on the *Mahāyānasaṃgraha*, Asabhāva explains: “First is dhyāna of peaceful abiding, which means attaining peaceful dwelling in the present life, being free from conceit, views, and craving, because of attaining purity. Second is dhyāna of initiating [virtues], which means being able to initiate superior qualities such as the six abhijñās. Third is dhyāna of accomplishing what needs to be done, which means wishing to benefit sentient beings, because of being able to quell the afflictive affairs of hunger, famine, pestilence, various terrors, and so forth.” In the Liang translation of the *Mahāyānasaṃgraha*, the explanation of the three absorptions states: “There is attaining peaceful dwelling in the present world. Why? Because it can separate from all defiled dharmas. First, one who relies on this absorption generates self-benefit, meaning that due to the three knowledges, it can induce and accomplish the six abhijñās. Second, the absorption that induces causes to accomplish the abhijñās generates corresponding benefit to others; benefiting others precisely refers to the three wheels: first is the wheel of supernormal powers, meaning the psychic power of the body, the divine ear, and the divine eye; this wheel leads those on deviant paths toward what is right, causing them to take refuge in the right. Second is the wheel of reading thoughts, meaning telepathy, the divine ear, and the divine eye; this wheel leads those who have already returned to the right, causing those who have not yet had faith and acceptance to have faith and acceptance. Third is the wheel of right instruction, meaning the knowledge of past lives and the destruction of contaminations; through the knowledge of past lives one discerns their capacities, and through the knowledge of the destruction of contaminations, one expounds the right instruction according to what one has attained oneself, causing them to plant seeds, mature, and be liberated. Possessing these meanings, it is therefore said that absorption has these three grades as the practice of freedom from delusion and confusion.”