大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 72.31

72.31

In the commentary, from 'This dharma and simile are also equal' onwards, second, the commentary determines what is correct and what is flawed, first accepting [it], and afterwards rejecting it from 'It seems not to be the intention of the sūtra' onwards. This means that if it were interpreted as above, prior to the path one would already obtain the name of 'Dharma Cloud'. Since this name is established only here [at the tenth bhūmi], it therefore seems not to be the intention of the sūtra. As for saying 'it seems', it is because in terms of principle it could be viable: namely, although the meaning of a cloud exists prior to the path, the three meanings are not yet complete, so it does not obtain this name; only when the tenth stage is fully perfected does it obtain this name. In this way it can be viable, which is why it says 'it seems'.