大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 60.99

60.99

Regarding the commentary's "The treatise states that the last three lines all clarify bodily afflictions. Why are they not stated at the beginning?": What is the intention of the question? It means that the first four and the last three are old age, sickness, and death, which are all matters of bodily affliction; why are they not stated together in one place, but instead interrupted in between by seeking [the necessities of life]? The answer states: showing the body's repeated afflictions is intended to demonstrate that bodily afflictions are not single, pervading both old age and youth; therefore they are divided into two places. As for "can suddenly strike": both sickness and death can arrive suddenly. Therefore, one should ask again: since you say afflictions are not single, why not explain the characteristics of old age and sickness first? Then one should answer: because the fault of death is grave, the earlier commentary stated, "because this characteristic is prominent."