大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 63.66

63.66

Regarding the commentary's statement that "in the subsequent line, although giving rise to all practices, they do not fall back from the previous equal and pure mind," this refers to the sūtra's "according with tathatā." The treatise states: "Regarding practitioners who accord with the path of tathatā, because their deeply pure mind within that equality does not retrogress and is presently accomplished, they abide in accordance with that equal and pure dharma." Explanation: The non-retrogressing mind is precisely this according with tathatā. The meaning of the final line is: having already used the previous line to counter the deep mind that grasped pure characteristics, now, through the mind that does not grasp deep purity, one accords with and reaches non-retrogressing practice, constantly abiding in equality. To accord with the path of tathatā, the commentary therefore says: "Although giving rise to all practices, they do not fall back from the previous equal and deeply pure mind." Next, the treatise concludes: "When a bodhisattva abides in the deep mind in this manner, it is termed according with the path of tathatā." Therefore, when the commentary states "they are then able to accord with tathatā," it is precisely adopting this text of the treatise. As for the statement that "equality is precisely tathatā," this reconciles the treatise with the sūtra. The sūtra says "according with tathatā," while the treatise adopts "equality"; how are they the same? Therefore it says "equality is precisely tathatā," as explained earlier. Question: When the treatise says "abiding in the deep mind," how does this differ from the previous "abiding in accordance with that equal and pure dharma"? Answer: Previously, one solely abided in equality, so the commentary said "not losing equality." Now, mentioning the deep mind, one's practice accords with tathatā, which constitutes abiding in the deep mind.