大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 5.48

5.48

Regarding the commentary's "Using words of wordlessness to reach inexhaustible capacities": This is the second part, the explanation. That is, it reveals the reason it cannot be exhausted: because it entirely arises as a great function based upon essence, not being without words yet not residing in words. The marvel of the expounding capacity is called the words of wordlessness; the depth of what is expounded is called the principle beyond words. Thus the sūtra states: "Understanding that dharmas do not reside in words, / one skillfully enters the boundary of wordlessness, / yet is capable of displaying spoken words, / like an echo pervading the world." The Lotus Sūtra states: "By the power of skillful means, / he spoke for the five monks," and so forth. Regarding "Using the change of changelessness": this is because the expounding capacity has many modes. Later, the sūtra states: "Within a single dharma-door are immeasurable doors; / for immeasurable thousands of kalpas it is expounded like this. / The vast meaning of the dharma-doors expounded / is what is understood by the Universal Motion Light Deva," and so forth. Regarding "responding to inexhaustible capacities": this is because those who receive the influence are not one. Therefore, the ninth bhūmi states: "In this way, up to all sentient beings in ineffable worlds, in a single kṣaṇa, each with immeasurable spoken sounds raises questions and challenges, each question and challenge being distinct. The bodhisattva in an instant is capable of receiving them all, and also with a single voice universally explains for them, causing each to attain joy according to their mental inclinations," and so forth. If a bodhisattva is even like this, how much more so the Tathāgata! The "Chapter on the Manifestation of the Tathāgata" states: "The voice of the Tathāgata is also like this: universally entering all places, all sentient beings, all dharmas, all karmas, and all retributions, without any abiding." This is the change of changelessness. It also states: "Disciples of the Buddha! The Tathāgata, in accordance with the immeasurable differences in the mental actions, desires, and inclinations of all sentient beings, emits various sounds and turns the wheel of the Dharma." This is responding to inexhaustible capacities. This is expounded in detail below. From this we know that the Tathāgata's teaching and Dharma can be deep and vast, high and far-reaching, just as the great ocean circles the heavens: though one may travel across it, it is difficult to traverse; like an isolated peak steep on four sides: it may be gazed up at, but cannot be scaled.