大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 59.38

59.38

Regarding the Commentary's statement: "Whether giving or gathering": giving fundamentally extends to both benefits, but here it is spoken of from the aspect of benefiting others. Question: The first of the four means of gathering is already giving, why must it be spoken of separately? Answer: Because there are four intents. First, giving is fundamentally self-benefit, but now the bodhisattva practices it to cause sentient beings to emulate it in relinquishing stinginess and greed, hence it is the giving among the means of gathering for benefiting others, purely for benefiting others; second, giving simply discusses giving, while giving among the four means of gathering is a condition for gathering; third, giving extends to the three kinds of giving, while the four means of gathering pertains solely to the giving of material goods, since the giving of Dharma belongs within kind words; fourth, this ground is precisely the stage of giving, therefore it is spoken of separately. In the sūtra, it first clarifies universal giving, and later, under "constantly practicing," constant giving.