大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 69.73

69.73

Regarding the Commentary's statement, "The treatise calls it the foremost characteristic": there are two meanings: the Commentary provides one meaning, and further says, "because the Three Jewels are the most supreme". Regarding "three different types in accordance with differences in cognition": this means that all noble ones and sages are differentiated on the basis of unconditioned dharmas. The *Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā* states: "It is on account of equality that Subhūti and others are distinguished." Regarding "therefore the principle revealed is also spoken of as shallow or deep": in the small vehicle, personal emptiness is like the footprint of a hare; in the intermediate vehicle, cultivation is like the footprint of a horse; while the two emptinesses of the Great Vehicle reach the very bottom. Regarding "if in terms of differences in merits and so forth": the small vehicle takes three lifetimes, pratyekabuddhas take a hundred kalpas, and bodhisattvas take three asaṃkhyeyas up to the three learnings and myriad practices; their distinctions are not single, yet all are unified by a single characteristic, so that the four dharmas conform to a single standard.