大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 63.53

63.53

As for the Commentary from "How is this further different?" onward: distinguishing it from the sixth stage. First, a question; second, an answer from "There are three points" onward. Among the three: first, the broadness or narrowness of what is remedied: broadly remedying defilement is superior. Second, the order of the active and passive: if one adduces what is equalled to accomplish that which equals, this mind is still shallow; if one adduces the active contemplation to enter the contemplated object, this contemplation is deep. Third, the broadness or narrowness of the remedy: being exclusively confined to principle, the sixth stage is deep; hence the Commentary concludes by saying, "All of these, stage by stage, turn away from characteristics and abandon them," using the superior to abandon the inferior. Furthermore, the above three meanings also accomplish one another. Because initially what is remedied is narrow, the remedy is broad; phenomena and principle are both equal—how could it be bodily purity alone? Because what is remedied is broad, the remedy is narrow; the single principle is equal, devoid of defilement and purity. When the conceit of purity is not yet eliminated, one uses equality to complete contemplation; in this fifth stage, equal contemplation is already completed. Later, in the sixth stage, one enters principle by means of contemplation; thus the middle is completed by means of the beginning and the end.